DSM Engineering Materials recently announced its first collaboration with noho, a New Zealand direct sales furniture brand, to launch the Lightly™ Stackable Chair.
This new product, plant-based and derived from waste recycled materials, is the first chair to be made from DSM Engineering Materials' EcoPaXX® bio-based polyamide, derived from the castor plant.
PA derived from the castor plant
This renewable resource has a high capacity for CO2 absorption during growth, giving EcoPaXX® a lower carbon footprint compared to fossil-based alternatives.
EcoPaXX® combines superior functionality, optimal durability, outstanding aesthetics and a significantly reduced environmental impact, facilitating the noho brand to achieve its goal of creating furniture that is better for people and the planet.
In line with noho's strong environmental commitment, it has partnered with DSM Engineering Materials to create Lightly™ - the first product made from bio-based materials - which helps accelerate new developments in the brand's sustainability journey.
Noho has a line of ergonomically designed and more sustainably produced chairs for work, home and social settings, and Lightly™ is the second product in this line. It will be available in the U.S. and New Zealand on March 16.
The chair is made of EcoPaXX® (about 71%) and scrap recycled materials (about 28%). EcoPaXX® contains 70% bio-based content with renewable components derived from the castor plant. EcoPaXX® bio-based polyamides have a wide range of applications in the automotive, water management, consumer goods, electronics and food packaging industries.
Lightweight and easy to stack for storage Combining comfort and convenience, Lightly™ is designed to be lightweight and easy to stack for storage, transport, and versatility: one chair weighs only 2.7 kg (6 lbs.) and the stack of 10 chairs is only 106 cm (3.5 ft.) above the ground - allowing users to easily stow them away when not in use.
Because more chairs can be loaded in one container, this compactness also reduces the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with product transportation.
With its award-winning, research-based design, Lightly™ provides users with outstanding comfort. However, its thin frames are manufactured using as little material as possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with raw material procurement. This means that the materials used must meet extremely demanding performance standards, and EcoPaXX® combines strength, durability, low moisture absorption and excellent surface finish properties - resulting in a product that is both attractive in appearance and function, and sustainable.
As a key material proof in DSM Engineering Materials' Simply Circular™ initiative, EcoPaXX® helps manufacturers such as noho to close the loop on material recycling. Paul Wilkinson, co-CEO of noho, commented: "We are delighted to introduce this product to the market, offering users superior versatility and ergonomic design, while reducing the carbon footprint of its manufacturing process. The opportunities offered by DSM Engineering Materials in the area of recycled and plant-based materials fit well with noho's philosophy. Through our collaboration, we are taking another step forward towards our goal of creating furniture that fits the needs of people's homes in a more environmentally friendly way."
Martin Wolffs, Global Business Manager for EcoPaXX® at DSM Engineered Materials, commented, "It is a pleasure to help noho achieve its future-focused vision of minimizing environmental impact by considering the entire product lifecycle, from manufacturing to shipping - designing in a more sustainable manner wherever possible. Our bio-based materials offer superior performance while significantly reducing ecological impact - helping to pave the way for a circular economy of raw materials."
