BIOMEBOARD™ vs MDF: Which Board Should You Choose?
BIOMEBOARD™ is an engineered panel made from wheat straw. MDF is a board made from wood fibre. Both come as flat sheets for furniture and interiors. The big differences are the raw material, the binder inside, and the carbon released when they are made.
What are they made of?
MDF stands for medium density fibreboard. Wood is broken into fibres and pressed with resin. Most MDF uses a glue that contains formaldehyde. BIOMEBOARD™ is about 95% wheat straw and about 5% binder. The binder has no added formaldehyde, and no tree is cut to make the board.
How do they compare?
- Carbon: Our internal estimate for BIOMEBOARD™ is about 158 kg of CO2e per cubic metre. MDF is usually put near 900. That is an estimated 80% lower. This is our own estimate and has not yet been checked by an outside body.
- Screw holding: In an IS 3087 test, BIOMEBOARD™ held 1405 N on the face and 850 N on the edge. The standard asks for at least 1250 N and 850 N. This matters for hinges, handles and shelf brackets.
- Bending strength: 13.4 N/mm2, just above the IS 3087 minimum of 13. That suits shelves, desks and wall panels. It is not a board for heavy structural spans.
- Fire: A 16 mm Type F board tested as class B-s1,d0. In simple terms: it adds little to a fire, gives very little smoke, and drops no burning bits. MDF fire results vary by maker and grade.
- Water: After 24 hours in water the board swelled 7.4%. The limit is 14%. Use it indoors in dry areas, not in bathrooms or outdoors.
- Price: MDF is usually cheaper per sheet. BIOMEBOARD™ is priced per project.
Can you work with it like MDF?
Yes, mostly. It comes in 2440 x 1220 mm sheets (8 x 4 ft) from 6 to 20 mm thick. It can be cut, drilled and CNC routed. The Type F surface is smooth and takes paint, laminate and veneer. The Type R surface is raw and shows the straw flakes. Do a trial cut first, because machine settings can differ from MDF.
Which one should you choose?
Choose MDF if the lowest price is the only goal. Choose BIOMEBOARD™ if your client wants no added formaldehyde in the binder, if your project reports carbon, or if you want a natural, visible straw finish.
FAQs
Is BIOMEBOARD™ stronger than MDF?
Not in every test. It is strong where hardware is fixed, but it is a general purpose board.
Is BIOMEBOARD™ more expensive than MDF?
Same range. Send us your volume for a quote.
The binder has No-Added Formaldehyde. The lab measured 1.62 mg per 100 g of board. Natural straw can carry tiny traces, so this does not mean zero emissions.
Can I paint it?
Yes. Use Type F for paint, laminate or veneer.
Does it come in the same sizes as MDF?
Yes. Sheets are 2440 x 1220 mm, the same 8 x 4 ft format, in 6 to 20 mm thickness.
Want to feel the board yourself? Request a sample.