Ocean Wave
Designed by:
Polywood
Co-Designed by:
n a
Designer:
Polywood
Co-Designer:
n a
Country of Origin (Designer):
USA
Date of Design:
2020
Date of Manufacture:
2020
Decade:
2020s
Region:
Americas
Significance:
Includes landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastics for update on Andirondack chair from early 1900s
Manufacturer:
Polywood
Country of Origin (Manufacturer):
USA
Material:
Polyethylene
Process:
Pressure moulded
Monobloc:
No
Cantilever:
No
Renewable Carbon:
Yes
ERPR Score:
6
ERPR Rating:
Below Average
Weight:
17.7
Note:
North-American manufacturer Polywood’s Wave series is promoted as being made from ‘ocean bound’ plastics, but, according to the company’s website, the material comes from the manufacturer’s own in-house recycling division that processes ‘landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastic [HDPE] containers.’ A great example of how the term ‘ocean plastics’ has been misused by marketers to enhance the appeal of their products. At over 17kg the non-stackable Wave is one of the most material and transport intensive design in my database of chairs made using recycled plastics or bioplastics. However, the weight of an individual chair should not detract from the fact the company claims to recycle 400,000 containers a day across its entire range, equivalent to 146,000,000 milk cartons in 2019. Sales of the Ocean Chair are probably assisted by the wide range of 14 bright colours available. Nonetheless, the Ocean Chair was among the weakest performing designs made from ‘ocean plastics’ in my analysis.
Image Credit:
Polywood