Italian furniture brand Pedrali has launched its first collection of chairs made entirely from recycled plastic.

In line with its sustainable philosophy, the furniture manufacturer has created a new material, comprising 50% plastic post consumer waste and 50% plastic industrial waste.

All products made from this new sustainable formula share a characteristic neutral hue – entitled ‘recycled grey’ – chosen to even out and conceal any imperfections typical of recycled materials.

Designed by Eugeni Quitllet, the Remind ‘recycled grey’ chair is one of two new products made from the new material. Drawing on the sinuous curves of late 19th century wooden chairs, Remind is functional, versatile and relatively small, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Meanwhile, Odo Fioravanti has created a ‘recycled grey’ version of his Babila XL armchair. Designed to offer greater seating comfort, the latest addition to the Babila family has a polypropylene shell that stands out for the large dimension of its seat and armrests.

No stranger to recycling, Pedrali has always reintegrated part of its own industrial waste back into the production process. Plastic post-consumer waste comes from products that have been used and then duly recycled by consumers, such as plastic bottles or food packaging. The industrial element of the company’s new 100% recycled material comes from plastic waste, containers and films.

Pedrali has identified 50% of post-consumer waste as the ideal blend to guarantee premium products featuring the high resistance and durability levels required of contract furniture, given its substantial and prolonged use.

To ensure such properties, the furniture is subjected to resistance tests to prove it can withstand prolonged exposure to light and temperatures between +50°C and -10°C without effects. The furniture’s antistatic finishes are also easy to clean, maintain, sanitise and disinfect.

“This blend allows us to manufacture high quality green products with excellent mechanical performance,” explains joint CEO Guiseppe Pedrali. “Obtaining 50% of this material from post-consumer waste means selecting, sorting and recovering a material that would otherwise be discarded. Instead, by conducting precise tests and analyses, we can create the ideal raw material for use in furniture.”