Bioplastic: the new frontier of furniture design
Bioplastic and biodegradable materials are finding their way into the furniture design world. Which brands are making the biggest change?
Bioplastic and eco friendly materials are becoming more popular in the home décor industry. The interior design world is coming to realize how important it is to choose sustainable raw materials and be committed to a 100% green process. Bioplastic is and materials developed by Bio-on (PHAs or polyhydroxy-alkenoates) are obtained exclusively from plants, and processed with renewable sources. The raw materials used come from sources of agricultural processing, including molasses and sugarcane and sugar beet waste sauces, without any competition with food chains. These plastics guarantee not only complete biodegradability, but also, in most cases, the same performance and thermo-mechanical properties of traditional plastics.
The Milan-based company Kartell is one of the pioneers of the use of bioplastics in their products. This brand has made the history of design, creating objects that are now part of museum collections and furnished millions of homes, and now they are making n effort to take a step forward into an eco-friendly future. Kartell is specializing in the production of plastic design objects, with the help of the Italian Bio-on company, participating in the development of new bioplastic techniques. Today plastic represents an environmental problem of catastrophic proportions. It is estimated that in 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fishes. Investing in the development of more sustainable materials and biodegradable polymers is therefore the only way to go in order to buffer this planetary emergency. Kartell decided to pursue this goal and combine their timeless designs with a material that will not damage the environment.
Transform the electronics industry
The goal of Kartell, which has invested ten million euros in this operation, is to accelerate the development of organic electronics based on Bio-on technologies to gain a leading position in this emerging sector. "We are particularly proud that a prestigious brand like Kartell recognizes the innovation and potential of the technologies developed by Bio-on," commented Marco Astorri, president and CEO of Bio-on. "The new frontier of organic electronics has long been part of our bioplastic development plans, a platform product that has already demonstrated that it can be used in various industrial sectors to create environmentally sustainable products. This is why we want to share our technology with an industrial partner like Kartell, which represents Italian excellence in the world ".
A history of innovation
The constant updating and research of new materials and new technologies are part of Kartell's history. "I am very pleased to explore the future and in particular to discover completely different technologies compared to the products we have developed in the past", said Claudio Luti, president of Kartell. "This partnership is in line with Kartell's strategies, always looking for innovation that can accompany the brand in a process of industrial growth and product development". Research for the application of plant-based polymers in the organic electronics sector is currently underway in the Bio-on laboratories and the first results are expected in the next months.
Kartell and Italy are not the only pionners working hard for a greener future. The French designer Jean Louis Iratzoki together with the Alki company created the first chair in bioplastic and oak wood from sustainably managed forests. Natural polymers from corn, cellulose and other plant species are entering our daily life in the form of shopping bags and disposable tableware, but for what concerns the field of furniture, that of bioplastics is a world still undergoing exploration. Alki, which produces and sells sustainable furniture, got inspired by its spectacular location at the foot of the Pyrenees and gave birth to its Kuskoa line. The astonishing beauty of nature was a great reminder of how fundamental it is to preserve the environment. The materials used for Alki furniture are 100% natural and a deep research and experimentation has given life to Kuskoa bi, the seat in bioplastic with delicate colors totally biodegradable and very elegant.
Plastic from corn
The bioplastic used for the wrapping shell of the chair designed by Iratzoki is obtained from corn, beets and sugar cane and can be thermoformed, injected or extruded. The material is completely recyclable and biodegradable with industrial processes, so once it is decommissioned it does not create any damage to the environment. Thanks to the injection process with the natural material developed by Alki it is possible to obtain shapes that can only be achieved with plastics up to now. This kind of captivating chairs to date were not present in the company line, which has always wanted to minimize its environmental footprint.
Bio is beautiful
The chair has been exhibited at the Maison & Objet Paris exhibition 2018. The space of the French company had a great success and the bioplastic design was the star of the stand. The structure of the Alki stand was a statement about eco-friendly at the top consisted of corn, hay and wood to underline the environmental mission of the French Basque country brand. Soon it will be possible to touch Kuskoa Bi at the Salone del Mobile in Milan from April 14th to 19th.
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