The Netherlands’ VepDentea has used hemp to create a range of fully recyclable and carbon negative home and office chairs.
The “Hemp Fine” and “Hemp High” chairs are made with industrial hemp fibres bound with a plant-based, biodegradable and recyclable thermosetting resin developed by Plantics that contains among its components sugarbeet extract.
The residual fibre waste from hemp processing is used as raw material to make the seat shell of the chair. The fibres are processed into a thick mat that is combined with the resin and pressed into shape, and the resulting shell is finished with linseed oil. Other components used in the chairs include PEFC-certified* wood or recyclable steel.
“As a result of hemp’s CO2 sequestering qualities, the VepaDrentea ‘Hemp’ chair production process absorbs more CO2 than is emitted, making the range of chairs carbon negative,” says HempFlax; which supplied the hemp fibre matting.
Here’s how the chairs are made:
Once the chairs have served their purpose, the shells can be shredded and the material used to make new chairs – it can be reused endlessly, without requiring new materials or chemicals.
VepDentea’s project has been funded through the Top Sector Energy Subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. You can find out more about the hemp chairs here.
The creation of these chairs is another example of the many uses for industrial hemp.
“Combining hemp fibres with an organic glue made from only natural materials provides an effective replacement for pollutive synthetic materials and has the potential to revolutionise many industries seeking to reduce their carbon footprint,” said HempFlax CEO Mark Reinders.
HempFlax, which claims to be Europe’s largest independent grower and processor of industrial hemp, has more than 2,400 hectares of hemp expected to be harvested this year. The company has six business lines – nutraceuticals (CBD), bioplastic, construction, animal care, horticulture, genetics and cultivation.
In May this year, HempFlax established a building supplies division after acquiring German company Thermo Natur GmbH & Co. KG, which produces hemp-based insulation.
*Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
