Norwegian Green Alternative to Cushioning Foam for Sofas and More

Celine Sandberg was studying business development when she had the idea to replace petroleum-based cushioning foam, which fills our furniture, with a new variant made from Norwegian kelp. This is a Norwegian green alternative to cushioning foam sofas and more.

Celine Sandberg’s start-up company Agoprene is introducing sustainable seaweed foam that sets a new standard in planet-friendly materials. Developed and crafted to make choosing planetary health a no-brainer.

“For us, sustainability isn’t a trend or a selling point; it’s the benchmark. It’s about embedding eco-consciousness into every choice, ensuring that what’s ‘green’ today is ‘normal’ tomorrow,” states the company’s website.

Today, her company, Agropene, is doing well, as its flexible foam provides a green alternative for sofas and more. The primary component of Agoprene biofoam is Norwegian kelp, but minerals from crab shells and waste from the Norwegian paper industry are also used. The material is 100% biodegradable and contains no harmful or petroleum-based chemicals.

Born out of a vision to harness science for a meaningful impact, Agoprene stands at the intersection of innovation and responsibility. The starting point for Celine Sandberg’s journey was a challenge: how to reduce the carbon footprint of the furniture industry without compromising on quality.

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By trading petrochemicals for biomass, she and her team embarked on a mission to create foam that was not only eco-friendly but an upgrade in every sense. Today, as they expand their vision, they are driven by the same commitment to innovation, quality, and the planet.

Agoprene’s ambition is to enhance sustainability in everyday products, beginning with the furniture industry. Its solutions not only reduce environmental impact but also provide cost-effective alternatives for businesses across various sectors.

By sourcing natural materials from local waters, the company is crafting a foam that’s not just kinder to the planet but also a practical choice for various applications.

“Flexible foam made from seaweed hadn’t been produced before, so I went knocking on professors’ doors to pitch my idea, but they didn’t think it was doable,” says Sandberg. “I created the prototypes in my student kitchen with a lot of seaweed, some pots, and an oven. The first thing we made was bioplastic, which was quite easy, and then a rigid foam. After two years, we managed to make it flexible.”

“With rubber consumption increasing and set to continue to grow in the future, it goes without saying that we need more sources of rubber than we already have. Otherwise, we will have to burn down more hectares of rainforest and drill for even more oil”, says Celine.

She recently submitted her master’s thesis at NTNU’s School of Entrepreneurship and is now working full-time as the general manager of Agoprene. The goal is to develop an entirely new type of foam rubber that is biodegradable and more environmentally friendly than existing alternatives.

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Initially, the plan was to use natural rubber to make a new type of wetsuit for extreme sports athletes. However, when she discovered that rubber production was environmentally unfriendly, she began searching for alternative materials. And with a pandemic that shut down the country, Celine was forced to look in her backyard.

Celine’s surprise stems from companies’ willingness to test out a new material. She was speaking to some of the most prominent players in the world who have been reaching out to her company.

Agoprene is leading the way in sustainable innovation. Its seaweed foam is not just an alternative – it’s a revolution. Altogether avoiding petrochemicals, it’s pushing boundaries to offer a product that’s pure, eco-friendly, and in harmony with nature.

The company’s first automated line in Norway is slated to open later this year. According to Celine, it doesn’t make sense to build a few large production lines. “We want 100 smaller ones all around the world that are closer to customers and use local seaweed. Next, we want to target the transport and footwear industries.”

Norwegian Green Alternative to Cushioning Foam for Sofas and More, reported by Tor Kjolberg