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International Innovation Award for Vepa and Plantics

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Hemp chair collection made from hemp fibers and thermoset bio-resin is awarded The
Renewable Material of the Year 2021

Huerth, 21 May 2021 – Furniture manufacturer Vepa and Plantics Superior Natural Materials won the prestigious Innovation Award during the international Renewable Materials Conference on 19 May. The Hemp chair collection was awarded Renewable Material of the Year 2021. The jury was particularly impressed by the unique composition
of the product. The seat shell is made of hemp and resin that is completely organic, plant-based and recyclable. Something that was not possible before. The collection is designed, developed and produced entirely in the Netherlands and consists of chairs and bar stools with various bases. Production absorbs more CO2 than it emits. The chairs are also designed in such a way that parts are easy to separate and materials can be reused
endlessly.

Renewable Material of the Year 2021

The Renewable Materials Conference, organizes by the nova-Institut GmbH, is the successor to the International Conference for Biomaterials. During the three-day (online) conference, with more than 400 participants from 31 different countries, the focus lies on sharing knowledge and solving issues in the field of renewable, bio-based and recycled materials. The Renewable Material of the Year award is for the most innovative, renewable and “trend-setting” product and/or material. In the finals, which consisted of six nominees from different countries, including India, the United States and France, the Hemp chair collection was chosen as the winner.

A seating shell of hemp and bio-resin

The fibers of the hemp plant serve as raw material to make the seating shell of the chair. Plantics’ unique biological resin has been used as a binding agent. Dr. Wridzer Bakker, CEO Plantics: “The secret of the biomaterial developed by Plantics lies in combining our unique biological resin with the hemp fibers. Just like these hemp fibers, the resin is made from pure

This biomaterial formed the basis on which Plantics and Vepa set to work for the development of the chair collection. “For years we have been looking for a biomaterial in which both the raw material and the binding agent are organic, plant-based and recyclable. Only then could we really develop a sustainable product. We are extremely proud that we have been able to realize this after years of research and that we are the first in the world with furniture made of this
material ”, says Gertjan de Kam of Vepa. The Hemp chair collection is only the beginning of a real material revolution. “We are sure that our unique material forms the basis for many other products that we can create together” concludes Bakker.

For more information on Vepa the furniture factory click here.