Charlotte Jonckheer   1:PAPER / Chaud Paper Composite:



In 2018, I began developing a composite material made from wastepaper and stone dust. My initial motivation was to create a set of dining chairs with an outdoor aesthetic. Although I was attracted by the idea of using stone, I needed a material that was more appropriate for everyday use — something that was lighter and warmer to the touch.

My research led me to contact Wolf Jordan (in memoriam), a specialist in natural interior finishes. He suggested adding components that would strengthen the surface and fill the pores of the paper without compromising the material's circularity.

After a period of trial and error, during which I adjusted the quantities of each component to create the strongest material possible, the first version of CPC (Chaud Paper Composite) was born: a mixture of wastepaper and stone dust that resembles a mineral material while retaining the structural properties of paper. This makes it flexible and light yet strong, and still porous. The composite is both recyclable and compostable.

To ensure the material's sustainability, I had to source wastepaper that was free from harmful substances and chemical dyes. I reached out to Zwart op Wit, a local printing company that is deeply committed to ecological issues within its industry. I tested a range of offcuts that they considered to be waste. As each type of paper reacts differently to the components and has a different appearance when mixed, it was essential to choose the right quality to create a strong composite. They now provide me with high-quality paper offcuts that form the base of the CPC. Although I initially developed the material with dining chairs in mind, I soon realised that I could not force a design without first understanding the material itself. The outcome would be defined through experimentation, by identifying its strengths and limitations. This process resulted in my first design: an 8 mm curve, a structure capable of bearing significant weight that can be combined in various ways to create different objects.

Alongside the 8 mm curve, I continued to develop other paper shapes, each with unique qualities depending on the variables in the production process, such as the condition of the paper pulp, pressing speed and drying method. These explorations have led to a growing variety of objects and material experiments. Each one has deepened my understanding and appreciation of this complex and versatile composite.