Page 52 - Designing Ways 238

SHAPES

HempFlax Proud to Contribute to ‘Most Sustainable Chair Ever’

empFlax, Europe’s largest market use. As a result of hemp’s CO2 possible without having to add new raw
independent hemp grower sequestering qualities, the VepaDrentea materials.”
Hand processor, is delighted ‘Hemp’ chair production process absorbs 1. HempFlax’s hemp fibres have
to have contributed to the production more CO2 than is emitted, making the been awarded the International
of a fully recyclable, carbon-negative range of chairs carbon negative. Sustainability and Carbon
range of ‘Hemp’ office and home chairs, The VepaDrentea ‘Hemp’ collection Certification (ISCC) PLUS
manufactured by VepaDrentea, a includes chairs and bar stools with various certificate from DEKRA, one
furniture manufacturer based in Drenthe, frames made of PEFC-certified2 wood or of the world’s leading expert
the Netherlands. recyclable steel. In addition, the chairs are organizations. The certification
In a world-first, VepaDrentea’s range designed in such a way that the various applies to hemp fibres processed
of ‘Hemp’ chairs were developed by parts are easy to separate, and materials at the Company’s Dutch facilities,
combining HempFlax’s high-quality, can be reused endlessly, fostering a truly which remain the only natural
natural industrial hemp fibres with circular bioeconomy. hemp fibres globally to be
a biological resin, both of which are recognised under the scheme.
plant-based and fully biodegradable and Janwillem de Kam, VepaDrentea’s 2. Programme for the Endorsement
recyclable. Hemp fibre is the strongest Managing Director, commented: of Forest Certification
natural fibre in the world and, when “We had been looking for years for
pressed into non-woven fabric mats and a biomaterial in which both the raw Dr. Wridzer Bakker, CEO of Plantics,
combined with binding agents, can be material and the binder are biological commented:
used to produce extremely strong, durable and recyclable. Only then could we really “Existing binding agents are toxic and
‘shells’ suitable for a range of industrial develop a sustainable product. We are non-biodegradable, which means that
applications. incredibly proud that we have achieved the residues remain in the environment
VepaDrentea recognised these qualities this after two years of research and that for an infinite amount of time. To
and chose HempFlax non-woven fabrics we are the first in the world to do so. prevent damage to the environment,
as a raw material to make the seat shell for An innovation that contributes in a very we have developed a 100% biological
its ‘Hemp’ chair collection. The hemp is special way to our mission to combat raw thermosetting resin that binds the hemp
treated with a biological resin, made from material scarcity, climate change and CO2 fibres together. The resin is made from
plant-based materials including sugar- emissions.” pure plant-based materials - including
beet residues, which acts as a binding The individual components of the chair sugar beet residues - and is recyclable. In
agent, organically gluing the materials are designed in such a way that they can the future, we hope to replace all materials
together. The resulting novel biomaterial, easily be separated and reused after use. De which contain harmful resins with our
which is moulded into a seat shell, has Kam adds: “Although they are completely eco-friendly variant.”
been expertly developed by Plantics, biodegradable in nature, we prefer not
an innovative bio-plastics developer, to break them down. That is a waste and Mark Reinders, CEO of HempFlax,
and is patented worldwide. Plantics and unnecessary. The shell is shredded and commented:
VepaDrentea collaborated intensively for then pressed again. The same quality, “With consumer demand for eco-
two years to turn this biomaterial into a repeated over and over again. We are the friendly products growing by the day,
high-quality seat shell suitable for mass- only company in the world where this is and offices and hospitality venues across

52 Issue 238 • dw