Office Chair Adhesive Recycled Foam
The adhesive-bonded recycled foam used in office chairs is made by recycling foam waste and re-manufacturing it with adhesive, which poses certain health risks. Some adhesives are more environmentally friendly, but the overall product testing situation still needs attention.
Source and Cost of Recycled Foam
Recycled foam is made by recycling foam waste and re-manufacturing it with adhesive. Its cost is about half that of virgin foam. To reduce costs, some manufacturers replace the virgin foam used as cushion filling in office chairs with recycled foam during production. Some even adopt a 'composite' approach, covering a thin layer of virgin foam on the surface or both sides of the recycled foam to conceal its rough texture.
Types and Characteristics of Adhesives for Bonding Foam
One type of adhesive used for bonding foam is an environmentally friendly water-based adhesive. It has passed EU ROHS, REACH, SGS certifications, as well as GB 18583 and HJ-2541 standards. It is suitable for 15 types of materials, including leather, glass, and rubber. It is mainly used for bonding foam, thick leather, and faux leather in soft furniture such as swivel chairs and mattresses, as well as in industries such as automotive, aviation, and high-speed rail seat production. This adhesive features fast drying (30-second positioning), high bonding strength, zero VOCs, odorlessness, and non-flammability.
Potential Health Risks
Cushions for office chairs made of recycled foam and adhesive-bonded materials may have issues such as excessive formaldehyde levels. Some sales personnel from manufacturers have stated that they do not have reports and that 'formaldehyde testing will definitely fail.' Formaldehyde is a harmful gas to the human body. Long-term exposure may cause damage to the respiratory and nervous systems, leading to symptoms such as coughing, dizziness, and fatigue, and may even increase the risk of cancer. Therefore, when purchasing office chairs, consumers should not only focus on price and appearance but also pay attention to the materials and environmental performance of the products, choosing those with formal testing reports and compliance with environmental standards as much as possible.
