PETALING JAYA: Environment-friendly "Green Furniture" using rice husk and rice straw bio-composite is expected to be on the market by 2010.

SIRIM Bhd is developing the eco-friendly furniture under its advanced polymer and composites programme.

This first-of-its-kind project in Malaysia aimed at producing wood-free mainstream indoor furniture with at least 60% content of rice husk and rice straw was made possible by the TechnoFund grant, awarded by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

SIRIM vice president of research and technology, Dr Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof said in a press statement on July 17 that a number of prototypes have been developed, while the complete range of products is expected to be commercialised by 2010.

"It is our hope to develop advanced bio-composite products that meet consumer needs while conserving forest resources," he added.

The "Green Furniture" technology is also in good position to penetrate the export market especially in North America, Europe, and East Asia (Japan, China and South Korea). It may also benefit countries with abundant and untapped resources of rice husk such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Natural fibre materials are compounded with a certain amount of thermoplastics, while addictives are used for ease of processing and to bond the otherwise incompatible natural fibre and thermoplastic components.

The institute also provides technical know-how on the development of rice husk bio-composite formulation and the "Green Furniture" technology to interested companies.

SIRIM has signed memorandums of agreements with Symphony Advanced Material Sdn Bhd and Kayusaha Corporation Sdn Bhd as consultants to develop polymer/natural fibre (kenaf and rice husk) composite material for extrusion and injection moulding applications.

Sirim recently organised the "Dining Furniture Design Competition" using bio-composite as the main base material, among local colleges and polytechnics.