The Dutch-based Plantics accomplished a great milestone by being awarded with the 1st place for “Renewable material of the Year 2021” at the Renewable Materials Conference 2021 organised by the German nova-Institute. The distinction was due to Plantics’ collection of eco-friendly chairs developed in partnership with the furniture manufacturer Vepa. In the making of this chair model, the companies have used hemp fibre and bioresin which are both fully biological, plant-based and recyclable.
The Renewable Materials Conference 2021 hosted a global competition that led up to 6 final contenders being chosen. During the event, the 3 top places were awarded resulting in Plantics winning, together with their partner Vepa, the 1st place prize for “Renewable material of the Year 2021”. And what is this revolutionary material? It is a combination of hemp fibre and bioresin, which is part of a new family of bio-based materials that have been developed by Plantics and that is patented worldwide for many different applications. The two Dutch companies have collaborated for two years and ended up creating a high-quality seat shell from Plantics’ unique biomaterial. Out of this partnership, a collection of chairs and bar stools was born.
We had the opportunity of talking with Wridzer Bakker, CEO at Plantics, that highlighted the importance of this achievement for the company: “This was especially meaningful as this is an election by professionals in material science, a trustworthy audience. Furthermore, this type of recognition strengthens the confidence of our partners that Plantics materials are truly unique and it also led to the approach by many new potential business partners. We were also able to perceive that only a few companies, including Plantics, are working on natural and fossil-free materials which will bring a structural solution for the world’s plastic and CO2 problems. This is what Plantics is all about.”.
Plantics’ resins are produced out of waste material from plants and are the first 100% bio-based thermosetting resins in the world. The company develops new, completely circular composites, foams and coatings. In close collaboration with different partners, these materials are used to develop high quality, circular and CO2 negative products for a variety of applications.
In the pipeline for this year and the ones to come, Plantics already has in store a range of new and innovative products. Wridzer mentioned a new application that is particularly interesting: “A fieldlab house, which has been build last year, is equipped with many of our materials, like outside cladding, inside wall decoration, flooring, sound insulative ceiling tiles and constructive materials. The great results from this fieldlab will turn into new materials that Plantics and its partners will launch in the building & construction industry. Certification processes are ongoing which take some time, and step by step we will launch such products.”. In addition, together with partners, the company has plans to launch more furniture models like chairs, tabletops, interior design items and products in other markets Plantics cannot disclose yet. In early 2022, a new series of biodegradable plant pots will come to the market, avoiding large volumes of plastic waste in horticulture.
With their big achievements, Plantics also caught the attention of the Dutch media and has been featured by a national publication, “Financieel Dagblad” (the equivalent to the “Financial Times” in the Netherlands), as the number one climate tech company to watch in the country. “Plantics vision is to provide game-changing material solutions that help to solve the world’s plastic and CO2 problems, and to become a leading company in the circular economy. We will continue with material research & development to further strengthen material properties and develop 100% biobased, circular applications in areas where it is most needed, like in Building & Construction and other industries.” – summarised Wridzer about the vision and next steps for Plantics.
Plantics received a Phase 2 grant from the European Innovation Council to bring to market a new bio-based, recyclable and biodegradable plastic.
Did you hear about the EIC Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Programme?
With the EIC GHG programme, part of the Business Acceleration Services, the EIC offers its beneficiaries the support and expertise needed to assess, track and efficiently reduce their carbon footprint by offering various resources.
In addition, co-creation activities with corporates, industrial associations, regions in carbon transition and other EIC beneficiaries are planned. If you were inspired by Plantics’ story and you’d like to co-create new green solutions, you can find more information on the EIC GHG programme here.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.