The new Puustelli kitchen combines biocomposite and traditional carpentry.
The Puustelli Miinus kitchen, which will be launched on the market this summer, is a spectacular demonstration of innovation that is created through collaboration between a family business, a design office, a research institute and a university.
The CEO of furniture manufacturer Puustelli Group Jussi Aineen According to the new kitchen, it is the most significant leap in the history of kitchen materials since chipboard in the 1970s.
"For several years, we had been planning a kitchen that would be domestic, sustainable and recyclable. Our goal was to create a cutting-edge product for the future that also communicates our company's core values of bringing responsible, sustainable solutions to the market," says Aine.
All parts of the Puustelli Miinus kitchen frame are recyclable, maintainable and replaceable. The frame material is recyclable UPM ForMi biocomposite.
“We wanted to halve the carbon footprint of current kitchen furniture. This is made possible by a new material,” says Aine.
The best properties of plastic and wood
The Miinus kitchen was created through a collaboration between VTT, the design agency Desigence, and the Aalto University Wood Technology Laboratory. In addition, a number of leading companies specializing in the field participated in the development.
Three challenges had to be solved in the design.
"First, we had to find a solution that worked in terms of sustainability and safety. In addition, the product had to withstand stress and be technically acceptable. The end result also had to be reasonably priced so that a commercially viable product could be manufactured industrially," says Aine.
"Biocomposites combine the moldability and efficient production methods of plastic with the strength of wood, which holds its shape well, making it an attractive raw material for many uses," says VTT Research Professor Ali Harlin the material of the frames.
The kitchen places high demands on materials, as temperatures can vary from 90 degrees Celsius to minus 20–30 degrees Celsius. The materials must also withstand stress and weight. The results of VTT's life cycle and carbon footprint calculations confirmed to the partners that the ambitious idea has the makings of a commercial innovation.
Desigence industrial designer Juhani Salovaaran This was a key part when we started looking for other partners for the project.
"In the beginning, we didn't know what material the kitchen would ultimately be made of. Testing and research helped us to identify the right solutions," says Salovaara.
The kitchen made of biocomposite has also attracted interest internationally, including in India and Australia.
Text by Olli Manninen
Photo: Puustelli
Read the full article in the print issue of Paperi ja Puu magazine, 2/2013.
