In Denmark, sustainability is not a USP but part of the culture. They understand what we are doing and the path the furniture industry needs to take.
Partnership between TRIBOO from the Netherlands and UPCYCLING SCANDINAVIA from Denmark makes a case for scaling up in Scandinavia in the field of circular furniture upcycled from healthy raw materials with a low CO2 footprint.
Upcycling Scandinavia was founded by Minik Helborg, Erik Serritslev Jørgensen and Søren Østergaard. Upcycling Scandinavia is developing new methods for recycling paper, cardboard and plastic and has begun to use new technologies and production methods to reduce pollution. Waste as a valuable resource. Minik has worked for more than 20 years in sales and marketing with companies in areas such as IT and office furniture. Erik excels in business development and strategies to organizational development. Søren has spent his entire professional career in sales and marketing in the furniture and textile industry and has a passion for creating strong, lasting relationships. Together, the three enthusiasts and business people form a strong team working determinedly to develop solutions that take a responsible approach and help address some of our most important climate and resource challenges.
TRIBOO and Upcycling Scandinavia are working together to make the circular economy a reality. Reducing waste, bringing healthy materials into society and reducing CO2 emissions. At Upcycling Scandinavia, you can now find circular products and solutions from TRIBOO, EverUse, #GREENGRIDZ and NeverEnding Kitchen. Upcycling Scandinavia's beautiful circular products are available exclusively at TRIBOO.
After a preparation of more than 6 months, we toured Denmark with a team of 7 experts during the last week of October. The great interest from Danish furniture manufacturers accelerated the cooperation. In Scandinavia, sustainability is not a USP but something normal in business. As a result, they understand better what we are doing than in other countries and we don't have to convince them that this is the way the furniture industry should go. We have brought the healthy and reusable solutions now so we can move forward. The first aid for unhealthy office environments devised by TRIBOO now also comes in a Danish version. The healthy and reusable materials and structures mean that other organizations can now make a start on the circular transition.
Responsible organizations do not go overnight, and certainly not in Scandinavia. It has to be sound and good. The innovation was initially received skeptically 6 months ago. People had expected that production processes and machinery would have to be modified. Various tests have since taken place on site, think; sawing, drilling, milling, masking, edge finishing. In addition, various duration tests and bending tests. Despite the high quality requirements, #GREENGRIDZ passed with flying colors.
Due to the positive test results, they started producing furniture on their own initiative. We were positively surprised when we were presented with a beautiful design coffee table and circular workstation from #Greengridz and Everuse. These products had also been presented the week before at a leading fair on sustainability in Copenhagen, to get feedback from the market. The feedback was very positive.
The enthusiasm from production was because the panels were flat, strong and rigid and no problems had arisen on the production lines. But what really made them happy was the light weight of the #GREENGRIDZ Furniture panels. They are easier to lift and handle, which is very nice when hundreds of panels pass through your hands each day. A #GREENGRIDZ furniture panel 40mm thick has about 60% less weight than a traditional particleboard or MDF furniture panel. Particleboard weighs about 18 pounds per m2 and #GREENGRIDZ about 6 pounds per m2. That's a factor of 3 lighter, which is good for backs, physical fitness and mood of the people who work with it every day. This benefits well-being and productivity.
Another side benefit of less weight is less CO2. On the one hand because much less material is used in the panel. On the other hand in transport where much less fuel is used because the truck has to transport less weight. In addition, more volume can also be transported. A trailer can transport up to 26 tons of weight or 80m3 of volume. With solid panels, only half the volume capacity can be utilized due to the heavy weight. With #GREENGRIDZ's lightweight furniture panels, 100% of the volume capacity can be utilized. This allows you to transport up to three times more furniture panels at once than traditionally. Besides being efficient, it's also good for the wallet.