Jet and Paco
Designed by:
Tramontina
Co-Designed by:
-
Designer:
Tramontina
Co-Designer:
-
Date of Design:
2018
Date of Manufacture:
2018
Decade:
2010s
Region:
Americas
Significance:
Polyethylene derived from sugar crops - same characteristics as petroleum based equivalent
Manufacturer:
Tramontina
Material:
Polyethylene
Process:
Injection moulded
Monobloc:
Yes
Cantilever:
No
Renewable Carbon:
Yes
Weight:
5.8
Note:
Country of origin: Brazil
Image: Braskem. ERPR score = 12 (above average). Brazilian companies have been pioneers in the use of bioplastics, benefiting from years of investment in biofuels by local industry. Braskem and Tramontina partnered to develop two chairs (Jet and Paco) using renewable polyethylene (Bio-PE), made from ethylene derived from sugarcane. Braskem claim that the renewable polyethylene they invented has the same characteristics as the fossil-based version. The material is theoretically an ideal ‘drop in’ solution, as it can replace traditional fossil-based plastics without the need to modify existing production facilities. The chairs have excellent end-of-life prospects as the material can be recycled together with fossil-based polyethylene. Despite being derived from bio-mass, however, renewable polyethylene is not biodegradable. The ERPRs of both the Jet and Paco are impacted by the fact neither of the designs stack, the chairs are heavier than average and colour choices are limited.