TRIBOO and BlueBlocks, two innovative companies from South Holland, are introducing a groundbreaking product to the Dutch furniture market: the circular #GREENGRIDZ SeaWood tabletop. It’s the perfect combination of a lightweight tabletop construction and a finish made from sea veneer—a laminate crafted from plant-based waste streams derived from seaweed.

The result of this sustainable partnership is impressive. Both products are manufactured locally. The #GREENGRIDZ tabletop is made in Zevenhuizen using between 60 and 90% less material and generating 60% fewer CO2 emissions than heavy, solid furniture panels such as particleboard and plywood. The sustainable laminate is manufactured in Rotterdam and is perfect for finishing tabletops, furniture, and interior design projects. Ecological pigments provide a wide range of color options with a subtle, natural look.

The first tabletops in the collection are available in sizes of 60x60 and 90x90 cm, in both square and round shapes, and in various thicknesses. For every square meter of tabletop surface, 2 kg of fibers derived from seaweed waste streams are transformed into a stunning finish. The finish comes in eight natural colors as standard: pebble, seaweed green, aquamarine, black lava, sunset red, sage, nude, and kelp brown.

Both entrepreneurs are bursting with energy and are working together toward a zero-waste future. Marc van der Heijden, founder and CEO of TRIBOO, and Marjanne Cuypers-Henderson, founder and CEO of BlueBlocks, want to work together to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and a zero-waste society for everyone by making it available today for use in offices, stores, hotels, and schools.  

About the Process

Using clean bioprocesses, the seaweed is, so to speak, cut into pieces and reassembled in a new way together with the other fibers. In this way, the fibers bond with each other, eliminating the need for adhesives or other binders to create the material. As a result, the material remains adhesive-free yet strong, while also being naturally healthy and easily recyclable within the process itself.

About Seaweed

Seaweed is one of the oldest organisms and also one of the fastest-growing forms of biomass on Earth. Some species grow up to half a meter per day. It needs only light, CO2, and some nutrients from the water to grow, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are converted into seaweed growth and oxygen. That is why seaweed beds are also called the forests of the ocean, because, just like trees on land, they are an important source of oxygen for our planet. Because seaweed grows in saltwater, no land or freshwater is needed for cultivation. Seaweed also doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers to grow, and it restores balance to our aquatic ecosystems. Currently, too much CO2 is accumulating in the oceans, causing the water to acidify. Seaweed effectively absorbs this CO2, and by subsequently using the seaweed as a raw material for products, the CO2 remains stored within it. For its seaweed, BlueBlocks collaborates with Dutch growers and the Scheveningen-based North Sea Farmers foundation.

About BlueBlocks

BlueBlocks is a biotech company based in Rotterdam that develops biomaterials and new production techniques, using the laws of nature as its starting point. This means that we collaborate locally with others and work with renewable raw materials and waste streams, using clean processes and materials for use in circular products.

About TRIBOO

TRIBOO BV was founded in 2016 and is based in Zevenhuizen. With revolutionary innovations and pioneering techniques, they transform 'worthless' waste streams, from plastics and natural fibres, into 'valuable' circular office furniture. TRIBOO makes an impact in radically changing and making the furniture industry more sustainable. In 2020, it was recognised by being nominated for the Oscar among entrepreneurial awards, the Koning Willem I plaque, as one of the 12 most sustainable companies in the Netherlands. The European Commission also named TRIBOO as a Rising Star at the European Business Awards for the environment in the products and services category. One to watch and standing out for bold leadership towards a sustainable economic recovery for Europe, well aligned with the priorities of the European Green Deal.

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