This study evaluates the mechanical performance and carbon emission implications of producing plywood from senescent oil palm trunks (OPT), a readily available agricultural residue in Thailand. Veneers were dried using hot air at 90°C and a hybrid hot air–microwave process before being fabricated into plywood with urea–formaldehyde adhesive. Mechanical tests showed that plywood from hybrid-dried veneers (OPP-H90-M2k) achieved higher tensile strength and modulus of rupture (MOR) than hot-air drying alone (OPP-H90), while bondline shear strength remained consistently high. However, MOR and modulus of elasticity values were lower than those of commercial plywood, suggesting that OPT plywood is currently better suited for non-structural interior applications such as furniture and partitions. A simplified carbon emissions inventory indicated that OPT plywood production released about 843 kg CO2-eq/m3, compared with 990 kg CO2-eq/m3 for open burning and 800–1,200 kg CO2-eq/m3 for natural decomposition. Although its footprint is higher than advanced low-carbon plywood systems, the results suggest that OPT plywood offers a moderate emissions reduction and provides partial carbon storage within the product. Overall, converting OPT into plywood represents a practical alternative to unsustainable disposal practices and supports more sustainable biomass utilization in tropical agriculture.
RACHSIRIWATCHARABUL et al. (Thu,) studied this question.