Sydney, Jul 30 (The Conversation) - When you think of plastic chairs, what image comes to mind? Is it the widely recognized, lightweight, stackable polypropylene chair found in hardware stores globally, or something more sophisticated like Shiro Kuramata’s Miss Blanche (1988)? This unique piece, featuring roses encased in acrylic resin, now fetches over USD 500,000 at auctions.
I specialize in industrial design, examining the interplay between technology, commercial design, and sustainability. My Ph.D. research revolved around the 80-year history of the plastic chair.
The simple yet ubiquitous plastic chair offers profound insights into society’s evolving perceptions of plastic and foreshadows potential changes ahead.
An 80-Year Journey
The story of the plastic chair commenced in the United States during the 1930s when petrochemical giants DuPont and Röhm & Haas began mass-producing acrylic glass. Industrial designers used rods and sheets of this material to create various consumer products, enhancing traditional manufacturing methods.
The material shortages during World War II spurred further plastic development. Post-war, designers rapidly adopted plastics, foreseeing a future filled with abundance, making luxury products accessible to all. Plastic revolutionized household items like TVs, toys, and upholstery, making them affordable.
Fibreglass manufacturing saw significant advancements during WWII for the US Navy. The process involves weaving glass strands into a loose mat, laying it in a mold, and binding with polyester resin to create a solid, complex shape. The first fibreglass chairs, such as the Plastic Armchair by Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Chair, embraced this technology. The Space Age (1957–69) led to bold experiments with vibrant glossy surfaces and futuristic shapes, all enabled by fibreglass.
Changing Public Attitudes
The iconic Earthrise photo captured the fragility of our existence and reliance on finite resources like fossil fuels, essential for plastic production then. The 1970s brought oil price spikes due to geopolitical tensions, making plastics expensive. The limitations of early plastics, such as fading colors and scratching, eroded consumer trust. People turned to traditional materials like metal and timber, with fewer plastic chair innovations in subsequent decades.
The plastics industry then redirected its strategy, integrating wood-like materials held together with polymer adhesives, masked under finishes like polyurethane. As environmental concerns arose, the industry launched a successful recycling campaign. By the century’s end, plastics regained popularity.
The Recycling Narrative
From the late 1990s, prominent designers embraced injection molding, favoring its cost efficiency over fibreglass. Designers like Philippe Starck initiated a trend for translucent chairs, and Jasper Morrison revolutionized the industry with air injection molding.
However, the revival was short-lived. The limitations of mechanical recycling became apparent. By 2020, only 9% of the 8.3 billion tonnes of produced plastic had been recycled, usually “downcycled” into materials like polyester clothing. Concerns grew over ocean pollution and health risks from plastic additives.
In response, the industry is now exploring plastics partially made from recycled materials or renewable resources like plants and algae (bioplastics).
Innovations and Challenges
Among 60 studied chairs, the Bell Chair stood out, made from merely 2.8kg of plastic waste, minimizing energy use during production and transportation. Though intended to be recyclable, limitations like lack of proper coding and fibreglass content challenge true recyclability.
Contrary to expectations, bioplastic chairs often require additional material for strength, leading to bulkier designs and hybrid materials that aren't easily recyclable or biodegradable.
The Future of Plastic Chairs
Bans on single-use plastics, reducing plastic packaging, and increasing recycled content are starting to have an impact. Experiments with renewable plastics in consumer goods are gaining ground.
To meet global emission goals, the transition towards renewable plastics from fossil-based variants needs acceleration. Government action will be essential where industries lag in voluntary changes.
The plastic chair of the future will likely originate from entirely renewable resources. Building a sustainable plastics economy is not just a possibility but a necessity.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
