Rattan PROCESSING & MANUFACTURING According to the Indonesian people, rattan is hugging the rainforest. This is meant both literally as rattan grows like lianas around the trees but also figuratively speaking, because the use of rattan help preserving the rainforest as there is no rattan production without the rainforest. 80% of the world’s rattan resources grow in the Indonesian rain forest. Rattan is fast growing and regenerates in the span of 5-7 years. In nature, rattan absorbs CO2 and produces up to 35% more oxygen than a tree. Rattan comes in 600 different variants and from these 40 can be used in the production of furniture. At Sika-Design we only use the two best qualities called Tohiti and Manau. Making rattan furniture is extensive work that requires many skilled hands. The process already begins in the rainforest where experienced harvesters assess which lianas are mature enough to be cut down. Processing of rattan Our rattan grows in the Indonesian rainforest where it is harvested by hand. Before processing, rattan appears with sharp thorns which are scraped off before the lianas are tied up and taken back to the village. In the village the rattan is classified based on type and size. The rattan lianas are cleaned in water, and dried under the sun. The big rattan is dried in upright position to get rid of the water more easily while small rattan is dried lying on the ground. From here, the lianas are delivered to the manufacturing facilities. 4
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