Wall-Hung Toilet Made From Woodchips Flushes Eco-Worries To Do With Ceramics
Can the production of toilet bowls flush our planet’s environmental health down the drain? The process requires using large amounts of natural resources, such as water, minerals, and energy, making it a resource-intensive industry. On top of that, high-temperature kilns consume a lot of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.
Woodio, a Finnish design company, is cleaning up the manufacturing process with ‘Block’, a throne made from woodchips. Sawdust and wood shavings have been previously used to break down waste when off the grid. However, Woodio claims this is the “world’s first” flushable toilet made of the material instead.
Petro Lahtinen, the founder, created the material in 2017, and since then, it has been turned into all types of bathroom appliances, including sinks and bathtubs. It comprises 80% wood by volume, utilizing locally-sourced aspen and offcuts from the Finnish forest industry to make a composite.
The company mixed this with fossil-based polyester and bioplastic resin to create the final product, which is entirely waterproof and sturdy.
Block produces 99% fewer emissions than typical ceramic bowls. This is thanks to the fact that it uses less water, energy, and no heat.
That being said, there are a couple of caveats to note. One is that as it is a composite, users cannot recycle it at the end of its life—Woodio estimates it can last 10 to 15 years but, if kept well, could also go up to 50. In response, the company says it can be burned for energy.
There is also the fact that it still relies on fossil-based materials, polyester resin, and surface treatment. However, Dezeen mentions that the company wants to switch to bio-based resin once it has settled into an industrial factory.
The Block can be found online from €766.13 to €887.10 (US$835.19 to US$967.28).
