Kinnarps reduced emissions by 86%* through material changes

The interior design group Kinnarps’ commitment to reducing emissions generated results in two steps when they focused on the base frame of one of their desk pedestals (rolling cabinets). After two material changes, they reached a total CO₂ emission reduction of 86%* for the component, compared to the original material.

Switching from one virgin plastic to another gave the biggest reduction

Polykemi has had a long-standing collaboration with customers Kinnarps and the injection moulder Nolato, most recently in a coordinated effort to reduce product-related emissions. The project explored the effects of material changes in the base frame of one of Kinnarps’ desk pedestals.

“By choosing a high-crystalline PP instead of a PA6, both based on virgin materials, they were able to reduce their emissions by 74 percent. It’s a great example of how major improvements can be achieved even without using recycled plastics,” says Area Sales Manager, Johan Sonesson.

After seeing the positive effects of the first material change, without having to alter the production process or compromise on quality, the next step came naturally. The curiosity to further reduce emissions led to a second switch, from PP to recycled PP.

“In the second step, they switched to our REPRO PP, which is based on recycled plastic, and reduced emissions by an additional 45 percent, resulting in a total emission reduction of 86%* compared to the original material,” says Johan Sonesson.

Reduced costs in both the short and long term

A material change from PA6 to PP does not only reduce emissions. PP has both a lower cost and lower density than PA6.

“For Kinnarps and Nolato, choosing PP also has the benefit of producing more plastic components from the same amount of supplied material, due to the lower density. In addition, the lower weight also reduces transport emissions per part,” says Johan Sonesson.

Choosing the right material is always a balance between performance, functionality, and environmental impact. Careful evaluation of possible alternatives is therefore essential.

“As a material supplier, our role in these material transitions is to determine what requirements the material must meet in both production and the final product, in order to identify alternatives that result in lower emissions,” says Johan Sonesson.

Knowledge sharing throughout the entire process

The main motivation behind these material changes was reducing emissions. To achieve the desired results, close collaboration and knowledge sharing between all parties were key factors.

“Throughout the process, Nolato and Kinnarps have been in direct contact with both sales and technical experts from us at Polykemi. We’ve been on-site in production during implementation, listening to the customer, providing training, and fine-tuning the material when needed. It’s rewarding to see our customers experience these kinds of positive effects, and it strengthens us as a supplier to see that this is possible,” says Johan Sonesson.

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