What Is Eco Plastic Furniture?

What is eco plastic furniture? Surely the words “eco” and “plastic” cannot co-exist, right? Wrong! There are many factors that have to be considered when choosing sustainable furniture. NeoTimber’s range of plastic furniture is made from recycled material, making it extremely low maintenance, without the need for painting or other kinds of treatments to protect it from damage. It is also unlikely to need replacing in the long term, as opposed to natural rattan, timber, and wicker, which will decompose, and metal, which will rust, unless it is powder coated or regularly oiled. In this article, we will explain in detail the many benefits of choosing ec0 plastic furniture over other alternatives, and why it is the smart, sustainable choice for your garden space. Let’s take a look.

There are many materials available on the market for outdoor garden furniture, include traditional timber, wicker, metal, rattan, and recycled plastic, all of which have their own visual qualities depending on what you are looking for in your garden space. Many will boast eco-friendly credentials, but these must be thoroughly examined before you make a decision. For example, to effectively weatherproof timber furniture, you will have to annually paint the surface with sealants or chemical preservatives, both of which are harmful to the environment.

It is important too to do your research about where the timber has been sourced from. Cheaper timber furniture may not be FSC-certified, which could mean the wood used has not been sourced in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way. Metal too, has to be mined. As most metal furniture is made from steel or aluminium, a huge amount of mining will have to take place before these products are delivered. While NeoTimber’s furniture is made from plastic, it all comes from one recycling plant, here in the United Kingdom. Recycling plants repurpose old materials into something new, which helps keep down the carbon emissions that are produced when making something from scratch.

You may have reservations about purchasing plastic, and rightfully so. There are many preconceptions about plastic furniture, that mainly come from the popularity of cheap, single use plastics. These plastic furniture options are often thin and brittle, are easily thrown around by high winds, and can snap and fall apart in high-usage sectors. This kind of plastic furniture is often stored inside or under protective coverings when not in use to save the material from damage, which raises the question – why would you use this kind of weak plastic in the first place?

At NeoTimber®, we have a decade of experience in creating high-quality outdoor plastic alternatives. All of NeoTimber’s plastic furniture products are made from high-strength, thick recycled plastic lumber, which is then fixed together to make any number of our premium furniture designs. This improved strength when compared to single use plastic makes it perfect for areas where it will experience prolonged daily use, such as schools, business spaces, and hospitals. The longevity afforded by stronger plastic makes it a more eco-friendly choice too, as it far less likely your furniture will need replacing.

At NeoTimber®, none of our furniture is designed to be single use. All of our products are made from carefully selected recycled plastic fibres, preventing the plastic material from ending up in landfills, in incinerators, or in the ocean. Plastic is a non-biodegradable product, which means we all must do more to ensure the available plastic we already have is being used effectively, rather than making brand new “virgin” plastic materials.

Though all of our plastic furniture products are long-lasting, and come afforded with a 25-year residential and commercial warranty, we understand the want and need to refresh and rejuvenate your space. Any of our furniture that has served its natural lifespan may be eligible for our buy back scheme, which allows us to reclaim our furniture, recycle it once more, and turn it into a new product. All this goes to show that buying eco plastic furniture helps you to contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy, and become more environmentally responsible with your purchasing.