Product Review

Kirei Panel from Waste Sorghum Fiber

This high-design, lightweight, formaldehyde-free panel is made of waste fiber left over after processing sorghum.

Kireiā„¢ is a lightweight, formaldehyde-free panel made from waste fiber left over after processing sorghum, a grain crop grown widely in many parts of the world. The product was developed in Japan in the mid-1990s and introduced to the U.S. market in 2003. Kirei is a Japanese character meaning both clean and beautiful, according to Kirei USA president John Stein. In Japan, the product is known as Koryo Board. Its irregular pattern gives the product a unique and attractive appearance. In addition to the sorghum stems, the panels contain two poplar veneers to provide stability.

While the technology is Japanese, most of the product is produced in northern China, where a factory was built in the sorghum-growing region. According to Kirei USA, sorghum is a drought-tolerant plant requiring little fertilizer or pesticide. By utilizing the waste fiber in this way, farmers are able to realize a new form of revenue, says Stein.

Published December 1, 2004

Wilson, A. (2004, December 1). Kirei Panel from Waste Sorghum Fiber. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/product-review/kirei-panel-waste-sorghum-fiber