The journey of Chip[s] Board began during the studies and freelance work of co-founders Rowan Minkley and Robert Nicoll, they state on their website. Working across a range of design and fabrication projects the founders were both overwhelmed by the lack of value materials were given and sheer disposability they held after such short lifespans.
Inspired to find a new solution they sought to develop a new material that if treated in the same disposable manor wouldn’t have the enormous environmental impact currently generated by material disposal.
Current plastic and particulate board manufacturing requires the use of toxic chemicals, such as known carcinogen urea-formaldehyde, which are extremely damaging to both people and the environment.
These materials are often non-recyclable and create vast amounts of waste, over 1/3 of all MDF produced ends up in landfill or incineration from manufacturing offcuts alone.
Chip[s] Board addresses these issues by developing materials made from a natural ‘waste’ product, created with low water use and zero production waste, containing no harmful chemicals or non-biodegradable materials.