SITITALY Eco-Friendly Polyurethane
SITITALY works with the innovative bio-based polyurethane foam, a cutting-edge, high-performance solution that respects the environment. It is the perfect alternative for those who want to manufacture responsibly and meet the needs of an increasingly circular market.
For years, those who design and manufacture chairs have had to choose between a material’s mechanical performance and the ability to present it as a sustainable solution. With bio-based polyurethane, this compromise is no longer necessary. The shells we print in BIO polyurethane retain the structural characteristics of traditional rigid polyurethane, while being made from a formulation that includes raw materials of vegetable origin and excludes some of the most critical substances used in the sector.
The three SITITALY bio-based polyurethanes
Bio-based polyurethane is a polyurethane foam containing a component of biological origin. It is the percentage of this component that gives our formulations their name.
We currently offer three different types of bio-based polyurethane.
BIO 7R: a rigid BIO polyurethane with 7% bio-based content and a density ranging from 400 to 700 kg/m3.
It is SITITALY’s standard polyurethane and is used for the vast majority of the shells we produce.
BIO 20R: a rigid polyurethane with 20% bio-based content and a density ranging from 400 to 700 kg/m3.
It is the formulation with the highest bio-based content among our solutions.
BIO COMPACT: a rigid BIO polyurethane with 6% bio-based content and a density ranging from 900 to 1,000 kg/m3.
It is the densest of the three formulations, with values almost twice as high as those of BIO 7R and BIO 20R.
The right choice always depends on the project rather than on the material itself. The geometry of the shell, the expected loads, the type of coating and the production volumes all play a role. This is the first point we address together during the consultation process.
Lead-free, CFC- and HCFC-free water-based foam
All our polyurethanes are water-based foams, which means that the foam is formed through a chemical reaction rather than by using fluorinated blowing gases. This eliminates gases that have been used by the industry for decades and are now considered among the most environmentally harmful substances.
The absence of lead and chlorinated CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) or HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) compounds concerns the composition of the finished product and, consequently, everything associated with it throughout its useful life, from the environment in which it is installed to its disposal.
What happens at the end of its life?
At the end of its life cycle, BIO polyurethane can be reused in several ways: to generate energy, to recover raw materials for new printing processes, or as a material for other applications.
In recent years, market expectations have changed significantly.
The furniture market is moving towards a circular economy and towards a design approach that considers disassembly from the earliest design stages. A seat whose load-bearing structure can be recovered rather than sent to landfill has become an important consideration at the purchasing stage, beyond any ethical considerations.
What changes for chair manufacturers
For those who manufacture chairs, choosing SITITALY BIO polyurethane means:
No redesign. The structural performance remains comparable to that of traditional rigid polyurethane, so moulds, geometries and tolerances do not need to change.
The same downstream workability. The shell is upholstered as usual, and the upholsterer’s work remains unchanged. During the co-design phase, however, we work to simplify the process wherever possible.
Sustainable content that can be documented. A defined bio-based percentage, a lead-free formulation, no CFCs or HCFCs, and water-based expansion. These are measurable characteristics that can be documented and verified.
Consistency with green specifications. More and more tenders, retail chains and contract customers are requesting environmental requirements for materials, and BIO 20R was developed to meet these demands.
One more point of differentiation. Bio-based polyurethane becomes part of the product story and gives you something meaningful to communicate when customers compare your offer with that of a competitor.
Determining which of the three formulations is best suited to a project is the kind of question we work on every day. Our team analyses the design, evaluates loads, density and the coating method, and identifies the most efficient solution before you even invest in a mould.
