VepaDrentea lanceert meest duurzame collectie stoelen ooit, die meer C02 opneemt dan uitstoot

Worldwide first with new and unique biomaterial

The Drenthe furniture manufacturer VepaDrentea is the first in the world to launch a collection of chairs with a seat shell made of a unique biomaterial made of hemp and resin that are both completely biological, vegetable and recyclable. Something that has not been possible before. The unique biomaterial was developed by Plantics and patented worldwide. Plantics and VepaDrentea worked together intensively for two years to turn the biomaterial into a high-quality chair shell. The new collection, called Hemp, is produced entirely in the Netherlands and consists of chairs and bar stools with various bases of PEFC-certified wood or recyclable steel. The production process absorbs more CO2 than it emits. The chairs are also designed in such a way that the parts are easy to separate and the materials can be reused endlessly.

During their search for a biofuel from biological waste material, UvA researchers Prof. Dr. Gadi Rothenberg and Dr. Albert Alberts accidentally developed a sticky mass that turned out to be a unique resin. This resin, together with hemp fibers, formed the basis of a new material with which Plantics and VepaDrentea set to work. We had been looking for years for a biomaterial in which both the raw material and the binding agent were biological, vegetable and recyclable. Only then could we really develop a sustainable product. We are extremely proud that after two years of research we have been able to realize this and are the first in the world. An innovation that contributes in a special way to our mission to combat raw material scarcity, climate change and CO2 emissions,’ says Janwillem de Kam, director of VepaDrentea.

A tub of organic hemp and resin
The fibers from the hemp serve as a raw material to make the seat of the chair. The advantage of hemp is that it grows without artificial fertilizer or pesticides, hardly needs any water and is grown in the Netherlands. In addition, hemp is strong and absorbs CO2. This means that the production of the chair has a negative CO2 footprint. More CO2 is absorbed than emitted. Biological resin has been used as a binding agent. Dr. Wridzer Bakker, CEO Plantics: “Existing binders are toxic and non-biodegradable, which means the residue will be floating around in the environment for a long time. To counteract environmental damage, we have developed a 100 percent biological thermosetting resin that binds hemp fibers together. The resin is made from purely plant-based materials – including residual material from sugar beets – and is recyclable. In the future, we hope to replace all materials with harmful resins with our nature-friendly variant.’

An infinite chair for office and home
The parts of the chair are designed so that they can be easily separated and reused after use. De Kam: ‘Although the shells are completely degradable in nature, we prefer not to break them down. That is a waste and unnecessary. The tub is crushed and then pressed again. With the same quality and endlessly again. We are the only company in the world where this is possible without adding new raw materials.’ The new Hemp collection is not only suitable for the office, but also for the home. ‘Offices are becoming increasingly homely. That’s why the furniture in the office also fits in well in your own living room. This also applies to the Hemp collection. We didn’t just look at sustainability and whether it’s practical, but also at design, comfort and affordability,’ says De Kam.