RiceFort is an innovative social enterprise passionate about converting agricultural waste into sustainable solutions-such as the upcycling of excess rice husks, an underutilized agricultural byproduct stemming from the production of rice, into high-quality, eco-friendly fiberboards that are cheaper, biodegradable alternatives to traditional wood products. Such waterproof, mold-proof, non-toxic, and durable fiberboards are used in furniture manufacturing, interior design, and green building materials.
RiceFort addresses some critical environmental and social issues, including deforestation, air pollution as a result of the burning of agriculture-generated trash, and job opportunities that would allow marginalized group participation. RiceFort promotes, in collaboration with farmers and environmentally-friendly entrepreneurship, a circular economy that contributes to the decrease in carbon dioxide emissions and enables other sources of earnings for farmers.
From sustainability on a world level to engaging in community power, re-conceptualizing landfills, and inspiring business, RiceFort truly covers a myriad of grounds.
Sunny Passion Programme
1st Progress Update:
Throughout this project, we successfully progressed from initial material trials to producing functional prototypes that demonstrate the versatility and practicality of our rice-husk fibreboard. This innovative material, which uses only a natural binder without PU or hardwax oil, has proven to be a viable option for furniture applications.
We developed and tested multiple prototypes to evaluate the performance of the rice-husk fibreboard under various conditions. These included: a low stool with plastic legs to validate fastener holding strength, a cat tree/scratcher to test shelf rigidity and integration with other materials, a rolling workshop stool to assess performance under dynamic loads, a wine pedestal to evaluate stability and display quality, and a ringbraced bar stool to study load distribution on welded frames.
Progress Toward Achievement:
- The project has achieved 40% completion in designing practical furniture for College.
- Under testing, we will do the chair with higher legs and also larger boards (the board will be produced after the new machine arrives).
- The remaining 60% will focus on refining the prototype (creating a design on the chair surface), producing chairs with larger boards. (We will purchase a new machine to produce larger boards; the machine will arrive by Mid-October)
- As The New Machine will arrive by Mid-October, from mid-October to Mid November, our progress will focus on building and refining our chair using our larger fiberboard.
Third-Party Testing and Patent Application:
- The prototype has been sent to a third-party testing facility to validate its performance further.
- As the government patent file number is pending, we could not disclose our process of making the above a low stool with plastic legs currently. More process of producing the chair will be shared in C!ab featuring our project details, after the patent has been made and we have succesfully produce a chair using our new machine.
2nd Progress Update:
Testing
- To validate the quality and safety of our rice husk fiber boards, we collaborated with a certified testing organization specializing in sustainable materials. The comprehensive tests evaluated key properties such as compressive strength, moisture resistance, fire retardancy, and environmental impact (e.g., formaldehyde emissions).
- The results conclusively showed that our boards exceed the required industry standards. This independent verification not only de-risks our product for commercial use but also positions it as a credible alternative to traditional wood or plastic composites, highlighting the viability of rice husk waste as a resource for eco-friendly furniture.
Table Building
- Our initial plan was to construct a chair as the primary prototype, leveraging the material's lightweight properties. However, after achieving breakthroughs in building a prototype shelf—such as improved joinery techniques and finish durability—we reassessed our priorities.
- Upon consulting with college representatives, we learned of an urgent need for a sturdy, multi-purpose table in C!ab, a collaborative innovation lab space. This aligned perfectly with our project's goals, so we adapted our design accordingly.
The hands-on construction process:
• Step 1: Apply initial coat of wood oil to protect and enhance the rice husk surface.
• Step 2: Assemble the table frame for structural integrity.
• Step 3: Attach legs and tabletop securely.
• Step 4: Sand edges for smoothness and safety.
• Step 5: Apply second coat of wood oil for added durability.
• Step 6: Prepare laser printer setup.
• Step 7: Etch custom logo onto the surface.
• Step 8: Final inspection and delivery.
The completed table is robust, aesthetically pleasing, and fully sustainable. It was delivered seamlessly to C!ab, where it now serves as a functional piece for student projects.
Read more from here to know more about the table production process: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pojOrp0MyRxT2nYtlmdYAtZAF9zhTbKp/view?usp=sharing
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