Plastic Lumber: Ideal For Furniture?

Using recycled plastic lumber for furniture is an ideal solution. The individual blocks can be shaped and crafted into a range of different designs. Sturdy, long-lasting and easy to look after, with plastic lumber furniture, you have a broad selection of premium products to choose from, and can save yourself time when it comes to cleaning. In this article, we highlight how plastic lumber is used to make our furniture, and all of the advantages this provides. Let’s take a look.

When you opt to use plastic lumber for furniture, you are choosing a versatile material that can be shaped and fitted together to make a wide range of different designs. Take a look at our product page to see the breadth of furniture options available to you, with picnic tables, outdoor furniture, planters, litter bins, composters, and bollards.

For a more examples of how plastic lumber can be used in exciting ways, check out our Curved and Straight Edge benches, which create a seat from interlocking plastic slats held together by the base. Another example is our Easy Assembly Compost Bin. This can be easily put together without tools, as it uses interlocking plastic lumber pieces.

All of our plastic lumber for furniture is made up of recycled plastic material. Plastic has the advantage of being an incredibly long-life material, but this quality is a double-edged sword. Because it is so long lasting, it means it is hard to dispose of once you have finished using the plastic product. This is why single-use plastic is so problematic – it is incredibly wasteful, and will result in waste that will linger in the environment near indefinitely. Thankfully, steps have been made to repurpose this waste plastic, to make sure it re-enters a circular economy, and achieve further, practical use.

At our recycling plant in the UK, we collect waste plastic, selecting only the best material to use for our products, quality checking the fibres at every step of the process. The plastic is then shredded, washed, melted and blended together, before being cooled and extruded into the desired shape of our plastic lumber planks. We then use this plastic lumber for furniture, as well as for other outdoor landscaping accessories.

Using plastic lumber for furniture has many advantages over other materials that are often specified for outdoor products. Natural materials like timber have their own benefits, but are rarely the complete package. Unless treated with preservatives, timber can be damaged by moisture, either with the effects of rot in more humid seasons, or frost when the weather is colder. While this may not be an issue if your plastic furniture is stored under shelter when not in use, many sectors will require the products to be constantly exposed to the elements, like when benches and litter bins are used in public parks, or planters are used for community garden projects.

Plastic lumber, in comparison, is resistant to this kind of moisture damage, meaning it is less likely to need replacing further down the line. We are so confident in our plastic lumber’s longevity, we’ve backed it up with a 25-year warranty. It is also less likely to break apart, crack, or splinter, which can be a huge problem for weight bearing furniture products. With its easy clean surface, there’s no need for ongoing maintenance tasks involved with other outdoor alternatives, like painting, staining, or oiling.

To conclude, the advantages of using plastic lumber for furniture are plentiful. The material is eco-conscious, as it reuses waste plastic and puts it to further use, making it less likely for you to have to replace your furniture in future. It also allows for a range of sleek, smart designs, making it easier to find something that works for your space. Finally, its low maintenance qualities mean that your furniture can look its best for far longer, keeping away the damaging effects of moisture. For a broader look at our product range, we recommend downloading our product catalogue, to see what furniture designs you can use for your own projects.