London – Designer Tom Robinson has collaborated with material manufacturing firm The Good Plastic Company to create a flatpack chair made of recycled hardware.
The Evolve chair is the first release of a larger collection of eco-friendly plastic furniture. The material is made from crushed and granulated e-waste that is then fused into five plastic panels that make up the chair. This process acts as an alternative to the carbon-intense production of virgin plastics as it eliminates carbon emissions. Also, it allows the finished material to resemble a more natural looking wood which gives the chair its artisanal look.
‘Evolve's design was born from a need to present recycled plastic in a way that people could actually want to have it in their homes – whether it be in a flat or farmhouse kitchen,’ explains Robinson. He continues: ‘Plastic, by its very nature, is considered industrial, machine-made and artificial – it feels quite fitting and important to show recycled plastic as something that can appear more natural, crafted and synonymous with the interior landscapes of today.’
Explore more on designers shifting the narrative around plastic in our interview with Jimmy Macdonald, founder of London Design Fair.