Finnish design furniture manufacturer Piiroinen have launched the ecological COMPOS collection by Samuli Naamanka in Japan at 100% design Tokyo. Coming right after the break - some photos and an awful lot of text for a single chair.
Info from Piiroinen:
In the COMPOS collection, designed by Samuli Naamanka, the traditional high criteria for public space design as well as a new way to take the environment into consideration are combined. The environment is taken into consideration by diminishing environmental impacts by choosing the correct materials in industrial production.
The seats of the chairs and the table top are produced from Finnish linen and corn starch which is polymerized from natural fibre. Thanks to the materials used in production, the seats are totally (100%) biodegradable. The difference between natural composite fibre and other natural fibres is that it doesn’t contain any inorganic materials, not even binding substances. Material is not at all oil based. Due to the material choice of the seat, environmental impacts are diminished when considering the whole life cycle of the chair, from the production of the seat until dispose.
After a long time of use, the seat of the chair can be grinded and reused for the production of a new product. At the end of the life cycle, the seat can also be demolished by burning or by composing it industrially for 2000 hours, i.e. about 80 days. In practice, the seat decomposes itself throughout time, even by composting it normally, like any other organic material.
The steel frame of the chairs are chromed or matt chromed steel tube. This steel frame can be recycled totally (100%) by using it as raw material for the production of stainless steel.
In addition to the features and criteria of the chair that is especially designed for public spaces, ergonomics and durability are also accentuated. Thanks to the 3-D shape of the seat, it is comfortable to sit on. Also, the seats are easy to clean.
The chair has passed the fire tests FM VSS 302 as well as 95/28 EC annex 4 and 5. Chemical burn free materials have not been added to the material.
Samuli Naamanka, sisustusarkkitehti:
“The goal of the three year long project within material research was to study the pressing of natural fibres for the demands of the furniture industry and achieve curves that are bent into three different directions as well as to explore different thicknesses of the material. From the beginning it was clear, that we didn’t want any inorganic materials to be used. In the COMPOS chair the goal has been achieved.”
“It is important to understand that the cost of the mould for this kind of technology is remarkably cheaper, in comparison to plastic moulds or aluminium moulds. Therefore, the production of the 3-D seat is possible even with a smaller investment. One of the significant benefits in comparison to plastic seats is the temperature of the surface, being much warmer and as a consequence more pleasant to sit on.”
I love the new materials being invented with an environmental conscience. Also having them turned into products with great modern design is a real bonus.