MOCOM, polymer compounder based in Germany, has partnered with Orangebox, a UK-based manufacturer of workplace furniture, to develop a new version of their office chair range, the “Do” chair, with a reduced carbon footprint. The new version “Do better”, made with MOCOM recycled content grades, has one of the lowest impacts of any products of this type. By utilizing an high proportion of recycled materials in the production of the chair, both companies are taking a significant step towards a more circular economy.
During the design process, MOCOM and Orangebox evaluated the environmental impact of the chair using data for a product life cycle assessment. They chose Global Warming Potential (GWP cradle-to-factory-gate) as the key indicator for measuring the impact of different materials. This is a common metric for comparing different materials, giving the equivalent mass of carbon dioxide produced per kilogram of the product. At the end Altech® ECO finally proved to be the right choice for many of the components used for the “Do better”.
MOCOM utilizes a polyamide 6 (PA6) fiber as a recycled feedstock in its Altech® ECO product portfolio, which has a number of advantages for a sophisticated end product like an office chair. “Our recycled PA6 fiber is a very consistent product, which requires very high consistency of polymer viscosity during production,” said Joachim Bernhard, Senior Director Global Marketing E&E/General Industries. “It is also a particularly clean feedstock – therefore, it doesn’t possess contaminants that can make mechanical property compromises necessary.”
Through supply chain teamwork, MOCOM has helped Orangebox exceed their original goals for carbon reduction and they deliver a breakthrough sustainable office chair. “We’re focused on deep-decarbonization of our product portfolio over the next decade. Developments in the strength and consistency of recycled polymers from MOCOM mean they now deliver the same quality and performance as the virgin grades we were using, but with a fraction of the carbon footprint,” says Gareth Banks, Head of Sustainability at Orangebox.
By partnering, MOCOM and Orangebox have developed a chair that delivers on both design and sustainability. Together, they are demonstrating that design, comfort, and sustainable materials can be brought together in one product, contributing to a circular economy.
