Durat: Over 30 Years in the Forefront of the Circular Economy

By Sarah Peiper

The principles of the circular economy have guided Finnish manufacturer Durat from the company’s inception. With a desire to use surplus industrial plastics as the raw material for high-end design products, the company is a leader in material innovation and sustainable practices.

Based in Finland, Durat was founded in 1990. The company’s main product, solid surface sheet material, is the result of its founders’ aim to reuse plastic waste as high-quality surfacing for design applications. The primary objective was to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfills. With intelligent innovation and design, Durat repurposes plastic waste to create a complete line of solid surface products while reducing negative environmental impacts.

A genuinely sustainable material, solid surface can have a long lifespan due to its exceptional repairability and durability. Durat takes it further: To ensure material circulation, the company buys back all remnants from fabricators and recycles any retired installations like furniture or casework. Remnants generated during Durat’s production process are also fully recycled.

Durat solid surface contains 30% recycled industrial plastic waste and is 100% recyclable. In 2022, the company repurposed nearly 126,000 pounds of industrial plastic waste, the equivalent of the weight of approximately 10 million plastic bottles.

Durat received its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in 2023, a certification that transparently communicates the environmental performance or impact of any product or material over its lifetime. According to the EPD, Durat’s carbon footprint is 3.35 kgCO2e. For comparison, the average carbon footprint per person per day is about 13 kgCO2e.

Sheet material, sinks, bathtubs and furniture distributed throughout Europe are manufactured at the Naantali plant outside Turku, Finland. In addition, Durat is also produced in the United States and China to meet the demand for their respective markets. Durat has distributors in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Italy.

Almost Endless Possibilities

Durat offers designers nearly infinite opportunities to create beautiful spaces using its line of solid surface. The sheets can create coherent, seamless surfaces in endless lengths with various edge designs and inlays. Seams can be sanded to be imperceptible. Its stylish appearance and durability make it the perfect material for public spaces like hotels, cruise ships, hospitals and residential spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. The distinctive characteristics of Durat come from the illusion of a three-dimensional surface while maintaining its luxurious, warm, silky touch.

Solid surface is nonabsorbent and provides a completely seamless structure. It is an excellent material for kitchen and bathroom countertops and vanities. It is also perfect for other bespoke joinery applications where durability, ease of maintenance, aesthetic appeal and environmentally friendly solutions are priorities.

Durat solid surface is available in around 300 vibrant colors with 12 different patterned textures, achieved with various mixes of colored specks. The original Durat material uses only clear recycled plastic granules, but custom colors and patterns can be made to order.

A Focus on Sustainable Innovation

Over the past few years, Durat has invested heavily in in-house research and development. The company is focused on further innovations in solid surface materials. Some key developments include increasing the ratio of recycled materials in production and using its own and other industrial side- stream materials, which led to the development of an entirely new type of Durat material.

This year, the company introduced DURAT Plus, the world’s inaugural solid surface that merges recycled PET resin with recycled solid surface materials. This innovation results in a uniquely designed solid surface boasting up to 80% recycled content.

“Throughout our company’s history, we continue to strive to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Heikki Karppinen, chief executive officer at Durat. “We do things that we believe contribute to the well-being of our environment. Our actions are guided by existing regulations and in line with our values, and we try to do as much as possible to ensure that our operations are ethically sustainable.” Heikki further explained that Durat has been operating according to the principles of the circular economy since the company’s inception and before the concept was mainstream.

The circular economy is a model aimed at minimizing waste and maximizing resources. It aims to create a sustainable economic system that benefits businesses, society and the environment by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions and preserving natural resources. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a take-make-and-dispose approach, the circular economy emphasizes the following principles:

• Design out waste and pollution: Products and systems are designed to prevent waste and pollution from the outset.

• Keep products and materials in use: Through practices like reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling, products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible.

• Regenerate natural systems: the circular economy goes beyond reducing negative impacts to actively improving and regenerating natural systems.

Key components of the circular economy include:

• Closed-loop systems: Materials are continually cycled back into the economy rather than being rendered to landfills.

• Resource efficiency: Maximize the utility of resources through better design, innovative business models and new technologies.

• Economic and environmental resilience: Reduce dependency on finite resources and minimize environmental impact.

A Designer’s Choice: A Unique Space for Helsinki Design Week

Interior designer and stylist Minna Jones wanted something different for a commercial project encompassing more than 5000 square feet; it was the main venue for 2023’s Helsinki Design Week. “From floor to ceiling, I wanted the spaces to be a complete contrast to the rather colorless hall space,” she explained. “I decided to change my own rules; my approach is usually more restrained and based on neutral colors. In this case, I ended up with bold splashes of color.”

Minna found Durat’s company values and mission aligned with her vision for this project — a perfect fit. “[Solid surface] was already familiar to me, but I hadn’t used it before. We wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere in the spectacular space.” Along with a stage for presentations and exhibitions, the space had Let Me Wine & HDW Bar and the HDW Stage. During the weeklong event, the space hosted various parties, product launches and discussions. Minna said her focus on the design was also modular. “I wanted to design a temporary event space that could be taken apart and completely reused. Minimizing demolition waste is important to me.”

After the event, the furniture was disassembled and delivered back to the Durat to be further recycled, a great example of how this company promotes sustainability at every stage of a project.

To learn more about Durat solid surface and find a distributor near you, visit www.durat.com.