Karuun®
Karuun® is a circular material that uses the power of the rattan tree to create a viable alternative to plastic and timber.
Rattan —one of the most robust, flexible and fastest growing trees in the world— is a type of climbing tree native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is distinguished by its capillary structure, characterised by technical robustness, flexibility and lightness.
Karuun® utilises the capillaries by filling them with specialist bulking agents. That helps to create a surface or board material for manufacturing. It can be processed creatively and shaped effortlessly. The final product is a combination of:
- 97.5% rattan
- 2% PVAc (white glue)
- 0.3% acrylic-based binder
- 0.2% colour pigments
Materials with distinct properties and wide-ranging applications can be produced depending on the cut direction (vertical or horizontal).
Karuun® is suited for high-end applications since it is a prefabricated, dry, solid material that doesn’t splinter or have any knots or uneven growth.
Production Process
The processing technology takes advantage of rattan’s vascular bundles, making it possible to produce high-performance products with little human interference. Here’s how:
- Rattan stems are harvested with a machete.The harvesting of rattan does not require deforestation, significant processing, or specialized equipment, so it has a less adverse impact on the forests.
- During the first two to three metres of growth, the stems do not harden up, but they can be cooked and eaten.
- A rattan stem is wound around a small tree trunk and pulled to remove debris, leaving a clean stem behind.
- Then it is cut into sections about three metres in length, bundled up and transported out of the forest to the processor.
- Naturally grown poles are processed only by removing the outer shell. The shell can be then re-used (e.g. as bedding for chickens, etc.)
Material Properties
- Scalability
- Pliability
- Robustness
- No splintering
- Air and light permeability
- Lightweight
Circular Features
- Low Carbon Emissions
- Production ensures bio-diversified forests
- By-products can be re-used (trimmed-off fibres can be re-processed)
- No waste
Raw Materials
- Ratan
- Production by-products
Afterlife
- Recyclable