All about Richlite!

Richlite: What is it ?

Richlite is a US manufacturer (based in Tacoma - Washington) of natural fiber composites since 1943. The company first started its activity with the richlite material for aerospace and industry in the broader. Then she developed and conquered professional kitchens for making food preparation surfaces. This innovative material is part of new applications such as furnishings, restaurant tables, worktops, kitchen doors, signage, coating but also as an ecological material for handles knives! The use of richlite in areas also varied, proves and certifies its quality.

Describe richlite in a few words ?

An ecological material for handles Based on paper:

• Sustainable
• Machinable
• Resistant
• Aesthetic

Ecological material manufacture for handles paper-based

Richlite is an ecological material for handles high quality made of cellulose fibers (paper layers) and thermosetting resin.

The sheets of paper are stacked by hand, alternating the direction of paper to acquire the best balance and the best possible stability. They are then pressed hot under pressure to bind them and get a robust material.

This process makes it possible to have a sheet usable (drilling, tapping, ...) while remaining dense, homogeneous and without empty.

The shades of the ecological material for handles

All this know-how makes it possible to create an aesthetic chinée, matte and marbled, with the sweetness of the leather. Each shade causes sensations to be traced and souvenous with natural and warm colors.

• The ecological material for handles bordeaux takes his dress to our famous French wines, direct reminder to our terroir. It can also darken and wearing hottest hues over time.
• The brown, is a medium brown, which evolves, with time, to a warm and honeyed brown.
• The gray is at first dark gray, then takes a small hue of bronze.
• Finally, the ecological material for handles black is deep, rich, velvety, such as Jet stone, recalling almost the hue of slates. It is by far the most popular color of the range because it retains its uniformity and tint in time.

Environmentally friendly

As respect for the environment being one of the most important values of the Richlite company, it is committed to always improving its sustainable practices, without neglecting the quality of its products. It mobilizes all its means in this respectful approach, the choice of raw materials until the manufacture of its products.

An ecological material for handles sustainable

Richlite is made from paper and resin, for which the company is sourcing from sustainable and environmentally friendly sources.

Make it with paper ®: All Richlite materials are made with FSC certified paper and / or recycled paper or cardboard.

• FSC® Certified Wood: comes from forests or managed plantations responsibly and durable.
• Recycled / used paper / / and cartons
• Eucalyptus fibers to fast renewal

The resin comes from Eco Bind resin technology (ecological link):

By using a phenolic resin in the manufacturing process, richlite reaches unparalleled quality in the finished product and minimizes its energy consumption, without adding urea-formaldehyde. In addition to reducing energy consumption, the phenolic resin has obtained the Ecobind designation, which indicates that it is one of the lowest volatile organic compound transmitters (VOC - Volattle Organic Compounds).

The energy valuation of waste

With WE (Waste-to-Energy) technology, up to 84% of Richlite's electricity comes from hydropower.

Reduce

With the help of the GHG Greenhouse Green Gas Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol), Richlite began to scrupulously control its emissions in 2005 using the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol. It had set a five-year goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30%. In 2010, Richlite exceeded this goal with a total decrease of 32% of CO2 emissions.

Safe for health

Richlite also wants to highlight health by investing in several points:

• Exempt from the dangers listed in the list of substances Extremely worrying (SVHC - Substances of Very High concerning) of REACH regulations (European Regulation which grants the consumer a "right to know" (Article 33) on the presence of substances Extremely worrying) at concentrations of less than 0.1%.
• NSF Certified: The NSF ensures that the products can be easily disinfected and that they do not have any danger to contact food, checking that they comply with health and safety standards.
• Certified GreenGuard: warrants that the product meets some of the world's most stringent and comprehensive norms in low volatile organic compound compounds (VOC - Vocatile Organic Compounds).

Durable Leed®

The method of manufacturing this ecological material for handles also validates a number of LEED® credits for:

• Reusing materials: Richlite materials have a long life and can be reused and worked for another project.
• Recycled Content: The brown product comes from 50% consumer waste.
• Regional Materials: The products are manufactured in Tacoma (Washington) and their resin suppliers are present within a radius of 320km.
• Renewable materials quickly: the products consist of eucalyptus fibers for rapid renewal
• Certified Wood: FSC® Certified
• Low emission materials: composite wood and agricultural fiber products. Does not contain urea formaldehyde. Certified GreenGuard (organization that aims to protect human health and improve the quality of life) for children and schools (highest ranking)
• Innovation in design

LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the international symbol of sustainability excellence and sustainable building leadership. It is a North American environmental building assessment system created by US Green Building Council (American Council of the Ecological Building), which corresponds to the high environmental quality in France (HQE). This system evaluates energy efficiency, the efficiency of water consumption, the efficiency of heating, the use of local provenance materials and the reuse of their surplus.

Tips for using this ecological material for handles

• This ecological material for handles works like the G10 or carbon fiber. It is a dense material, solid that requires tools with good cutting power. She works very well to abrasive belts, to the lime, rubbing and drilling. However, this material should be working on new or little worn tools to avoid accumulation of heat, risking richlite.
• The presence of water is not disturbing, nevertheless, it is not recommended to expose the material to the water for too long period.
• Tip for tasks: As a rule, richlite resists stains pretty well. As with most materials, there is a risk of stains. For rebel spots, try a non-abrasive household cleaner. Avoid using bleach products or abrasive cleaners. Nature yoghurt can also allow spots to be absorbed on clear color materials.

Do you have any questions ?

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