CONTEXT
Research and development are the elements that start the innovation processes. It is through investigation and the search for new ideas that the changes are achieved. Fibra´s R&D experience shows that several times the new ideas are created through internal projects, without the need of outsiders.
It was guided by this search for new challenges and solutions that the Skateboard Folha Seca (dry leaf in english) was developed.
CHALLENGE
The challenge proposed by Fibra Design, in partnership with Lets Evo, was to create a product using Brazilian materials that are inserted in a sustainable chain of production and to publish every step of the project in an online blog, so that everybody could follow the development of the project.
It was decided to create a skateboard because the product is exposed to several impacts during its use, so the skateboard itself could perform the mechanical tests of the materials chosen. Normally these tests are made in laboratories and are expensive. Other than that, Fibra´s personnel are skateboarders enthusiasts so they could be the ones who performed the tests (and had fun with it, of course). Material and product development done together, work and fun also.
RESULTS
The material developed during the project was baptized as BioPlac. The inspiration of the name comes from the fact that the material explores the Brazilian biodiversity, using different kinds of vegetable resources.
The material is formed by 7 layers bonded with water based adhesive. The outer layers are made of Pupunha Veneer, obtained from the waste of the sustainable palmheart industry. It is the result of technological advances of the Pupunha Plywood, winner of the iF Gold Material Awards 2005. The core of BIOplac is made with an Organic Mosso Bambu´s 3-ply, grown and produced in Brazil (agrotoxic free).
REPERCUSSION
Not only the material but also the product were granted prizes, they are constantly mentioned by the media and they participate in exhibitions in Brazil and abroad.
BIOplac was the winner of the iF Material Awards 2008 in two categories: “Material Applications” and “Processes”, in Hannover, Germany.
The skateboard reached the final of the VOLVO SportsDesign 2008 under the category “Boards” and it was exhibited during the ispo Winter, in Munich, Germany, one of the biggest radical sports fairs of the world.
The product also participated in the “Amazonia design, fashion and sustainable economy” held in New York, in the “II Bienal Brasileira de Design”, in Brasília, in the exhibition “Prêmio Museu da Casa Brasileira”, in São Paulo, and many others.
Fibra also had the opportunity to give a Dry-leaf board to personalities such as Donovan Frankenreiter – musician and freesurfer – during the “AlmaSurf 2008” festival and Bob Burnquist – professional skateboarder – during the “Oi Mega Rampa 2008”, in São Paulo.