Aug. 19, 2024
In regard to plastics, the company has relied on the logic that sourcing the best quality materials help to keep the objects it produces at the apex of the value chain. Making durable objects, tomorrow&#;s heirlooms, is far removed from the throwaway culture that generates plastic waste. Take-back and refurbishment services further extend the lifespan of products.Plastic is a cornerstone material in Vitra&#;s history. The first product developed by the Swiss manufacturer in collaboration with a designer was the Panton Chair, which depends on the unique strength of a synthetic polymer for the sinuous cantilevered form that made it an iconic design of the s.Now, though, the company is issuing its first recycled plastic chair; a version of the Tip Ton model designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby in . Tip Ton is famous for incorporating in its moulded form something other manufacturers had only been able to offer via complex mechanisms: allowing users to change the seat angle for better task concentration.The Tip Ton RE uses 3.6 kg of recycled polypropylene &#; which only months before might have been shampoo bottles or yogurt pots in the homes of German consumers before reaching Vitra&#;s injection moulding lines via the country&#;s &#;Yellow Bag&#; recycling scheme.To coincide with the chair&#;s launch, Chief Design Officer Christian Grosen shares some of the thinking behind Tip Ton RE.
For Vitra&#;s first recycled plastic chair, was it a challenge re-engineering a design from the collection rather than starting with a new commission? The reason for choosing Tip Ton was that it consists of a single material. Working on an existing product is a good way to gain experience with a new material. Though recycled polypropylene is still a type of plastic, it&#;s different to work with. When dealing with an existing product, you already know the technical challenges that might crop up, and you can anticipate those from the beginning. Due to the combination of an almost archetypical appearance and its new idea for movement, the Tip Ton chair encapsulates what Vitra is all about &#; innovation and longevity. This made it a good place to start. What was different about working with a recycled material? The challenge was to make the chair strong enough, which is often the issue when working with recycled materials. That&#;s why we added some fibreglass to strengthen the chair &#; while using as little as possible. Of course, when you combine fibreglass and polypropylene, it&#;s harder to achieve a perfectly uniform surface. That requires a lot of experience, which is why it was an advantage to know about the mould flows and technical aspects of the chair&#;s geometry. From the beginning, we decided that we didn&#;t want the material to result in any compromises on the quality of the chair. We wanted it to achieve the same certifications as the existing Tip Ton chair. It was an iterative process to determine the minimum amount of glass fibre while still meeting the desired quality standards. How did you decide on the source of the polypropylene? When you work with recycled plastic, you can choose between post-consumer or post-industrial material, even ocean plastic; and there are advantages and disadvantages with each. What we liked about the Yellow Bag system was that it was very easy to trace the journey. You take packaging waste from households; you clean it and chop it up. Then you turn it into something new that lasts. Local sourcing is also important; the material is collected in Germany and the chair is made in northern Italy. The great majority of our suppliers are located in Germany or neighbouring European countries. This is also where most of our products are sold. You see companies producing injection-moulded chairs in Asia with material collected in Europe, so the material has to be transported there and back, inevitably leaving an unnecessary ecological footprint.
The original Tip Ton comes in eight colours, but the recycled version is only produced in pale grey.
Yes. It&#;s very hard to separate the colours of recycled waste, so if you want to have specific colours, you have to add pigments or bleach, and we didn&#;t want to do that. We wanted to keep the material as clean as possible, so what you see is what you get. There are tiny specks of other colours in the grey, which vary slightly from chair to chair. But for me that adds interest and pushes our perception of plastics. The slight variations in the recycled material add depth and give it a story, similar to how the structure of a piece of wood tells you about the tree&#;s growth cycles.
How did you test the chair for strength and durability?
All Vitra products go through rigorous testing, depending on the norms we want to achieve. BIFMA [the US Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association] testing and European standards such as EN or GS require thousands of usage cycles to achieve certification. There are machines that apply forces and drop tests with falling objects. We have invented some of our own tests, which are even more demanding. It was important that this chair achieve the same levels as the original version.
Making products for a circular economy places limitations on designers and manufacturers. How do you feel about those constraints?
It&#;s a huge challenge. You need a different mindset, but we are adapting to it, because it&#;s the way we need to think and act now. It&#;s part of the designer&#;s and company&#;s responsibility. In this dialogue we push each other towards a more circular way of thinking. Testing new materials and processes can give you unknown results; it always leads to some kind of learning and adds to the knowledge base on the circular economy. This is different from finding only a new aesthetic or a new function. We view this as a very relevant challenge. The rules are not yet written, and we are writing ours as we go.
What have you personally learned from the Tip Ton RE project?
On a visit to the material supplier, I saw a bag of the shredded food packaging. It was before it had been washed, and you could still smell the food. It made me really happy to think of this waste being turned into a beautiful object that could be used for many years. The journey from disposable materials to lasting products really makes sense to me. I had another insight when I heard an interview with a leading acoustic engineer. He said there are no good or bad acoustics, just ones that are right or wrong for a given purpose. That reminds me of how we should use plastic. It&#;s a fantastic material and will be with us for a long time, but there are right and wrong ways of using it. The critical thing is to understand when to use recycled plastic, when to use new material, and when to combine them to achieve products that people will keep and utilise for as long as possible.
Whether you&#;re looking for sustainable accent chairs, desk chairs, or lounge chairs, this guide will help you find just what you&#;re looking for.
Before we get into the brands, let&#;s talk about the criteria for &#;sustainable&#;. As with anything in sustainability, there isn&#;t necessarily a black-or-white definition, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind.
Recycled and low impact natural materials are ideal when it comes to searching for that perfect eco-friendly chair.
Some materials you may want to look for are recycled aluminum (which is naturally rust-resistant) and reclaimed or sustainably-harvested hardwood.
For upholstered chairs, look for fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen, and recycled fabrics. And for the foam, some alternatives to synthetic foam include natural organic latex, coconut fiber, and organic wool.
When looking for wood furniture, check to see if the furnishes are free of toxic chemicals. Zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) is best and there are also many low-VOC options. Just try to leave any low-VOC furniture outside for a bit before taking it into your home if you can! [Check out more non-toxic home tips in this post.]
Given how heavy and bulky furniture is, local production is particularly important since the emissions from shipping can really add up.
Searching for domestic production is great, and local production within the area/state of the company can allow for even better transparency.
Now, let&#;s get into where you can find eco-friendly chairs that meet some or all of this criteria! We&#;ll start off with some options to find used chairs and then get into the brands with sustainably-made chairs.
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, all brands featured meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands we truly love &#; and that we think you&#;ll love too!
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are two classic options when it comes to finding used furniture! Here are some others to know:
OfferUp (buy and sell locally)
AptDeco (ships)
Kaiyo (also has shipping)
Chairish (vintage)
EBTH (like an online estate sale)
EstateSales.net (for finding in-person estate sales!)
If you can&#;t find what you&#;re looking for secondhand, check out these brands and retailers with eco-friendly office chairs, lounge chairs, armchairs, and more.
Looking for outdoor chairs? Check out this guide to outdoor furniture.
Savvy Rest is a seriously impressive sustainable furniture brand that has every single element covered when it comes to non-toxic accent chairs! The Verona Organic Armchair is made using GOTS-certified organic cotton and/or hemp upholstery, organic wool batting, sustainably-sourced solid hardwood maple, Cradle-to-Cradle Gold Certified Natural Talalay latex foam, natural coir, jute webbing, and zero-VOC finishes.
Highlights: Organic & Eco Materials, Sustainable Wood, Non-Toxic Finishes, Locally Made
Price Range: $2,699-$2,999
Use Code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off!
Shipping: White Glove delivery within continental U.S. Contact their team for shipping quotes outside of the 48 contiguous states.
Check Out Savvy Rest&#;s Armchair
Urban Natural is a mecca for all things eco-minded and non-toxic furnishings, including plenty of options for sustainable lounge chairs and accent chairs. You&#;ll even find recliners and swivel chairs among their selection.
The brands they curate utilize a range of materials &#; the sustainable highlights are responsibly-sourced hardwood, organic cotton, plant-based cushions, and even apple leather! Our top eco brand pick is Cisco Home, specifically their Inside Green selection.
Highlights: Eco-Conscious Materials & Processes, Many Brands are USA-Made
Price Range: $450-$7,000
Shipping: White Glove delivery in the contiguous U.S. for $250 flat rate (free for orders $2,500+)
Check Out Urban Natural
Non-toxic furniture brand Medley creates quality non-toxic and eco-minded furnishings, and their armchair collection is no exception. You&#;ll find sustainable chairs crafted just for you in LA using materials like FSC-certified hardwood, CertiPUR-US® certified foam, and organic natural latex.
Highlights: Non-Toxic and Eco Materials, Domestic Production
Price Range: $1,060-$1,940
Shipping: Ships internationally; contact to get quotes for shipping outside of the US
Check Out Medley&#;s Armchairs
Proving that furniture can be both beautiful and responsibly made, Maiden Home&#;s sustainable accent chairs are handcrafted in North Carolina from premium quality, eco-minded materials like 100% pure linen, recycled steel springs, and soy-based foam.
The woman-founded brand partners directly with artisans to bring you the best quality at affordable prices &#; and ensure transparent production.
Highlights: Made-to-Order in USA, Responsibly Sourced Hardwood
Price Range: $1,325 &#; $2,250
For more information, please visit JE Group.
Shipping: Free white glove delivery within contiguous U.S. + some locations in Canada
Check Out Maiden Home
Sustainable retailer Made Trade has a variety of sustainable lounge chairs made from thoughtful materials like sustainably sourced teak wood that was reforested in Nicaragua.
Some of the chairs are also indoor-outdoor friendly (be sure to check the description!) for maximum functionality.
Highlights: Sustainable Materials & Practices, Carbon Neutral Certified Company
Price Range: $590-$
Shipping: Ships furniture within the US only
Check Out Accent Chairs
In addition to using recycled & upcycled fibers for their sustainable accent chairs (and sofas), Sabai has two circularity programs: Repair Don&#;t Replace &#; where you can find individual parts &#; and Sabai Revive where you can sell back your Sabai furniture or buy previously owned furniture for a lower cost.
Highlights: Recycled and Sustainably-Sourced Materials, Repair Program, Resale Program
Price Range: $745 &#; $795
Shipping: Ships within U.S. and Canada
Check Out Sabai
Handcrafted and made-to-order with the finest materials like solid walnut and performance fabrics to withstand the test of time, The Citizenry&#;s sustainable chairs are well-positioned to become heirloom pieces.
The Citizenry partners with artisans around the world for all of their pieces, ensuring fair trade conditions and wages for the makers behind their products. Their fair trade chairs are made in Indonesia (teak and rattan chairs) and Northern California (upholstered chairs).
Highlights: Artisan-Made, Fair Trade
Price Range: $399 &#; $1,799
Shipping: Ships furniture within the U.S. only
Check Out The Citizenry
Out to transform the way furniture is made and sold, Burrow makes modular furniture that can expand and grow as your needs change. You can easily combine many of their armchairs and ottomans with sofas for a sectional!
The armchairs are made with responsibly-forested wood and non-toxic upcycled fabric upholstery.
Conscious Qualities: Responsibly-Sourced Wood, Eco-Conscious Fabric, Modular & Adaptable
Price Range: $425- $1,790
Shipping: Free shipping within the continental U.S.
Check Out Burrow&#;s Armchairs
A large furniture brand making some significant strides in implementing sustainable options, West Elm lets you filter by elements like GREENGUARD Certified and Sustainably Sourced. The Sustainably Sourced collection includes eco-friendly chairs made with materials like FSC-Certified wood and linen fabric.
Our favorite pick? The Mara Hoffman chair made in collaboration with the sustainable fashion brand of the same name.
Highlights: Options for FSC-Certified Wood, Natural Fabrics, Contract Grade Quality, and GREENGUARD Certified
Price Range: $699 &#; $3,197
Shipping: Ships within U.S. to home or local West Elm store
Check Out West Elm
And that wraps it up! I hope you found this guide to sustainable chairs useful, whether you were looking for desk chairs, upholstered chairs, or dining chairs. For outdoor chairs, check out this sustainable outdoor furniture guide.
The Best Non-Toxic Sofas for Truly Restful Relaxation
Gorgeous Sustainable Tables to Gather Around
Ethical Home Decor Brands for Your Conscious Space
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