إمكانية استخدام الكرتون المعاد تدويره في الأثاث المستدام

Feasibility of Using Recycled Cardboard in Sustainable Furniture

• The study investigates the viability of using recycled cardboard to create sustainable furniture units.
• Environmental concerns, like increasing carbon dioxide concentrations and decreasing green spaces, are addressed with this project.
• Egypt alone consumes approximately 500,000 tons of paper annually (2017 data).
• Recycled cardboard exhibits high resistance to compression when used in specific structural designs.
• This material can be used to create diverse and versatile furniture pieces, such as chairs, tables, and beds, with designs compatible with cardboard's properties.
• The concept of recycling emerged during World War I (1914-1918) and was reinforced during World War II (1939-1945), due to war-related material shortages.
• Modern recycling is part of sustainable design, aiming to balance the environment and resources.

Recycling Process

• Recycling involves reused products (product reusing) or material recycling.
• Cardboard/corrugated board is a recyclable material.
• The recycling process involves several stages:
  • Collection: Gathering discarded cardboard from various sources.
  • Sorting: Separating cardboard based on types (corrugated cardboard and boxboard).
  • Shredding and Pulp Treatment: Shredding cardboard for processing and pulping.
  • Contaminant Filtering and De-inking: Removing impurities like inks and adhesives from pulp.
  • Finishing: Combining treated pulp with new materials to create new corrugated board.
• Several factors impact cardboard recycling:
  • Mixed waste necessitates specific recycling processes.
  • Types of cardboard (e.g., waxed, sealed, damp) may need different methods.

Cardboard Properties and Testing

• Cardboard layers (outer layers, corrugated middle layer, inner liner).
• Corrugating process shapes the middle layer.
• Multi-layered cardboard (e.g., single-wall, double-wall, triple-wall) has varying strengths.
• Cardboard strength varies depending on the weight and type.
• Tests conducted on a 15mm thick cardboard sample used for heavy industrial export packaging.
• Different cardboard types (e.g., standard boxes, export boxes) have varying base weights (90 - 150 g/m² ).
• Compression strength tests in horizontal and vertical positions were performed on different cardboard samples.
  • Horizontal tests yielded low compression strengths (0.4 - 0.5 N/mm²).
  • Vertical tests showed significantly higher compression strength (950 kg) with interlocking designs common in wooden furniture.
• Tests evaluating tear and puncture resistance exceeded expectations at 350 kg.cm.

Furniture Designs

• The study displays different furniture designs using recycled cardboard. These designs were created using CAD/CAM software, showing the potential of recycled materials in contemporary furniture design.
• These designs address the potential to use cardboard in diverse furniture applications.
• Interlocking and layered constructions demonstrate the adaptability and strength of recycled cardboard.

Sustainability and Recommendations

• The study concludes that recycled cardboard can be a sustainable material for producing furniture.
• Recommendations include establishing recycling facilities and promoting co-operation between art schools and recycling companies to utilize the waste produced in educational contexts.
• Promoting recycling education through workshops and seminars is vital to educate people about recycling.
• Designers should creatively utilize recyclable materials and contribute to sustainable development.