NCP makes design furniture from plastic waste

Pioneering circular furniture production, Nordic Comfort Products (NCP) manufactures its products out of plastic waste from the local aquaculture industry. Using blockchain technology, NCP creates product passports for its recycled products documenting the product origin and the processes it has been exposed to.

At a glance

Chair made from recycled plastic waste
Developed in collaboration with renowned architecture and design firm Snøhetta
Circular production ensures a minimal carbon footprint

Solution status

Available

Approximately 10 to 20 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. Not only does this pose a danger to the world’s marine ecosystems, it is also a waste of a robust, flexible and useful material.

Over 90 per cent of the world’s resources are used only once. Circular production methods, where materials and resources are reused and repurposed in an indefinite closed loop, can remedy this. Circular production models rely on technological and industrial innovation – finding new ways of using materials and resources – as well as extensive cross-sector collaboration.

Designer chairs made from regranulated plastic waste

Designed by the renowned architecture and design firm Snøhetta, the S-1500 chair from Nordic Comfort Products (NCP) is made out of recycled plastic waste from fish farms. Local aquaculture companies Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett and Nova Sea provide NCP with worn-out nets, pipes and ropes for production. This material is then sent to a regranulation facility where it is broken down and repurposed for furniture production.

The S-1500 chair is produced using injection moulding, which allows the manufacturer to utilise exactly the amount of material needed, eliminating any waste from the production process. As the recycled material contains no additives, it can be remelted for nearly infinite reuse.

The S-1500 project has led to other projects in new branches of industry as well as new products based on the same material and knowledge.

Furniture with minimal carbon footprint from cradle to grave

The S-1500 chair’s subframe is made from 20 per cent recycled steel, and NCP is working to increase the percentage of recycled steel in collaboration with the steel business.

An EPD analysis by NCP shows that the S-1500 leaves a carbon footprint of 5 to 8 kg from cradle to grave. This is significantly lower than similar products fashioned from virgin plastics, which typically yield a carbon footprint of at least 12 kg.

Growing market for circular interior design products

The S-1500 is based on the classic R-48 chair, designed by Bendt Winge for schools and offices. Since its launch in 1970, over 6 million units of the R-48 have been sold all over the world. “S” stands for Snøhetta and “1500” for the amount of plastic waste in grams that is reused and removed from the environment.

The main markets for the S-1500 model are the education sector and public environments in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Secondary market segments include hotels, restaurants and bars, also in countries outside Europe.

Building on its success with the S-1500 chair, NCP is developing an expanded line of circular interior design products, including the Public chair and the Beat chair.

NCP also manufactures products for external companies and is actively seeking more customers.