When players take part in Population Zero, crafting is going to be a necessary tool for survival. As expected, players will need to build a variety of crafting tables suited to a diverse set of things to create. This includes building a fireplace where food magic happens; creating a workbench that can be used to make armor pieces and other needed items; and let's not forget the drying rack for preserving food.
To create basic equipment your two hands are more than enough, but creating a stone tool isn’t enough to defend yourself against the dangers of Kepler or against other players.
Anything more significant is impossible to make on your own and that’s when different crafting benches come into play.
Crafting benches allow higher-level items to be crafted and that improves colonist’s quality of life significantly. The benches differ in many ways. Some of them are suited for culinary, others to craft armor. You can even build a chemical lab.
Read more about each type of crafting station by visiting the Population Zero Reddit.