SafeReUse – Certification Program for the Use of Recycled Wood in the Wood-Based Panel Industry

Customer information / January 19, 2026

The SafeReUse certification program by Fraunhofer WKI is aimed at manufacturers of wood-based panels who use recycled wood as a raw material. It gives you the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the highest applicable standards – thereby building trust with your customers and partners.

Your Benefits

Legal compliance: Demonstration of conformity with applicable statutory requirements (e.g., Waste Wood Ordinance) and contractually mandated obligations (e.g., IKEA IOS‑MAT‑0010).
Protection of People and the Environment: Limits for harmful substances, regular inspections, and complete documentation
Transparency and Traceability: Verified management system with risk analysis
Competitive Advantage: Strengthen your image as a sustainable and responsible manufacturer

What is Certified?
The program is tailored to a facility that uses recycled wood to produce wood‑based materials. The certification is based on the requirements of IOS‑MAT‑0010 (with a focus on the final product) and optionally considers the German Waste Wood Ordinance for assessing the delivered recycled material as an input for further processing.”

Requirements

Permissible Waste Wood Categories: Only certain wood types and qualities (A I–A III) are allowed. Wood treated with preservatives is excluded.
Strict Limit Values: Maximum levels for certain substances apply either to the finished product or already to the raw material.
Regular Inspections: Chemical analyses and test reports, annually to quarterly depending on category.
In-House Production Control: Complete documentation, incoming goods inspection, sorting, sampling, and analysis.
External Monitoring: Annual audits and, if necessary, sampling by Fraunhofer WKI.
Risk Assessment: Identification, evaluation, and management of potential risks throughout the entire process.
Training and Qualification: Proof of expertise for all quality-relevant activities.

Certificate and Labeling
After successful auditing, you will receive a certificate with details for your operation. Labeling is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the standards and your customers’ specifications.

Sustainability and Quality – Your Competitive Advantage

Last modified: January 19, 2026

About us

Quality assessment at the Fraunhofer WKI

Through its research, the Fraunhofer WKI is providing a decisive contribution towards ensuring that an increasing quantity of building materials, vehicles and many other products are made from renewable raw materials. In order for these innovations to penetrate the market and lead to further research collaborations, the Fraunhofer WKI also develops methods for determining the material properties of sustainable resources, is involved in their standardization, develops suitable test methods and maintains its own body for testing, monitoring and certification.

More information about testing, monitoring and certification

Background of the Fraunhofer WKI

Sustainability through the utilization of renewable raw materials has formed the focus at the Fraunhofer WKI for 75 years. The institute, with locations in Braunschweig, Hanover and Wolfsburg, specializes in process engineering, natural-fiber composites, binders and coatings, wood and emission protection, quality assurance of wood products, material and product testing, recycling procedures and the utilization of organic building materials and wood in construction. Virtually all the procedures and materials resulting from the research activities are applied industrially.

More information about the Fraunhofer WKI

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