What are the benefits of edge banding?

As an interior designer or hospitality business owner you have a vision and an aesthetic you’re trying to achieve (or maintain) with your furniture selections. Edge banding gives you the flexibility to choose tables that feel finished, and polished, and fit your overall aesthetic. When applied properly, edge banding makes the entire plank look like a solid piece of wood. When aesthetics are a top priority edge banding is the easy solution.

Not only do they serve an aesthetic purpose, but with the high volume of clientele using your tables, there is bound to be a lot of use. Functionally, edge bands play another important role in your furniture. Firstly, edge banding improves durability by providing impact resistance. Edge banding provides extra protection against bumps, knicks, and wear and tear as well as from other things like moisture. Edge bands keep moisture out creating a seal on the edge of the core material.  Spilt tea, or even the use of cleaning products can cause particleboard and other similar materials to absorb the excess liquid and swell causing damage to your furniture. Edge banding provides a layer of protection against water damage so you don’t have to worry about unsightly swelled edges on your tables.

What is ABS?

ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene if you want to get technical, is a highly versatile thermoplastic. It is quite adept at protecting against scrapes and knocks so it's an excellent choice for furniture in high-traffic areas and can stand up to most household cleaning products. ABS is also highly heat and water-resistant so it can withstand quite a lot without risking shrinking, warping, or damage to the furniture core behind the edge banding. It‘s generally considered to be a green option compared to PVC. As it shares many of the same qualities as PVC, its more traditional plastic counterpart, ABS is an excellent option as a recyclable, environmentally-friendly edge banding material.

What is PVC?

PVC, or the technical name - polyvinyl chloride, is a popular material for edge banding. It tends to be inexpensive, durable and long-lasting. Unlike ABS, PVC cannot be fully recycled, so it falls short in the eco-friendly category. That being said, it is durable and impact resistant, as well as flame-resistant.

What are the differences between ABS and PVC?

Environmental impact

These days many businesses are exploring how they can minimize their environmental impact, from installing solar panels and reduced volume water supplies to considering which materials will be used in the production of their goods. How does that consideration play out with these edge banding options?

PVC is recyclable however when PVC is burned it releases harmful gasses which are detrimental to health and the environment. PVC plastics have to be separated from other kinds of plastic before processing. PVC also takes a very long time to biodegrade.

ABS is considered to be the “green” option between these two materials. This is because ABS can be recycled. The recycling process includes burning the ABS material, however, it does not release the same harmful gasses through this process. ABS also takes a shorter period to decompose in the ground, although as with any plastic product, it still takes an extremely long time.

Fire resistance of ABS and PVC

Of course, fire is not something anyone ever wants to think of, but unfortunately, it is a consideration that has to be taken into account at every step of your design process. PVC is resistant to fire, however, once the threshold is reached and PVC burns, the gas exposure is risky and poses a health risk.

ABS, on the other hand, is more resistant to fire. The benefit of ABS is that even if it does catch fire the harmful gas exposure is far more limited compared to PVC. This is also a contributing factor to the lower environmental impact of ABS.

ABS and PVC Durability

With high-volume establishments like restaurants, hotels, coworking spaces, coffee shops or retail spaces, we need to take into consideration the longevity of our materials. How quickly will they degrade or start to show wear? How often will the product need to be replaced, or repaired?

PVC is a highly durable material which makes it a good choice for high-traffic areas. It offers great resistance to wear and tear. It is also more resistant to strong solvents, cleaning products, and UV lights.

ABS, in contrast, can be damaged by the use of strong solvents when cleaning a surface. ABS is also less resistant to UV light compared to PVC. However, some additional coatings and pigments can improve UV resistance with optimal results. ABS is also very strong and an excellent option against bumps, scratches and knicks, making it a good choice for commercial projects.