When you think of rice, you probably think of food. But a Chennai-based company is proving
that rice can build much more than meals. Indowud NFC is transforming rice husk — an
abundant agricultural by-product — into strong, stylish, and sustainable furniture and
construction materials. And this breakthrough is rewriting the rules of eco-friendly design in
India

What Is Indowud NFC? The Indian Brand Reinventing Wood

Founded by B. L. Bengani, Indowud NFC has become a pioneer in Natural Fibre Composite
(NFC) technology. Instead of cutting down trees, the brand uses rice husk, which is usually
burned after harvest and contributes to severe air pollution.
By repurposing this waste, Indowud creates eco-friendly, durable, and recyclable panels
that can replace traditional wood in almost every application.

How Rice Husk Becomes High-Performance Furniture

The process behind Indowud’s material is as innovative as the idea itself:

1. Rice husk is dried and finely powdered.
2. It is then blended with mineral additives and polymer resins.
3. The mix is compressed into solid structural boards that are:
   o Waterproof
   o Termite-proof
   o Flame-retardant
   o Weatherproof
   o Free from VOCs and formaldehyde

These features make Indowud NFC materials safer for homes while ensuring long-term
durability

A Designer’s Dream: Freedom to Shape, Carve, Print & Thermoform

One of Indowud’s biggest strengths is its design versatility.
Their NFC boards can be:

• Printed
• Routed
• Carved
• Thermoformed

This gives architects, furniture designers, and builders the freedom to experiment beyond
conventional wood and plywood. Whether it’s kitchen cabinets, bathroom setups, decorative
cladding, or modern outdoor furniture — Indowud can handle it.
Indowud NFC panels perform exceptionally well where traditional wood struggles. The
boards are:

• Waterproof – ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces
• Fire-retardant – increasing overall safety
• UV-protected – preventing fading and cracking
• Free from toxic binders – ensuring better indoor air quality

This makes them suitable for both residential and commercial applications

Massive Environmental Impact: Saving Trees & Reducing CO₂

Sustainability isn’t a marketing tagline here — it’s the brand’s core.

Indowud’s manufacturing facility near Chennai processes around 10,000 tonnes of material

each year, which translates to:

• 40,000+ trees saved annually
• Up to 52,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduced
• A profitable and eco-friendly solution for farmers
• A significant reduction in stubble burning

By creating value from waste, the brand is pushing India closer to a cleaner, circular
economy.

At a time when the world is seeking alternatives to wood and plastic, Indowud NFC is

offering a solution that is:

• Sustainable
• Scalable
• Affordable
• Future-ready

It’s not just changing furniture — it’s changing how India thinks about materials, design, and

the environment.