Eames Plastic Chair: development of the material
The Eames Plastic Chair is one of the most important furniture designs of the last century. Since its introduction, it has undergone numerous changes in order to adapt to different requirements. Vitra has worked closely with the Eames family to continuously improve the material properties and comfort of the seat shells.
A brief overview of the material development of the Eames Plastic Chair at Vitra:
- 1957: first production with fiberglass as the material.
- Early 1990s: The production of fiberglass shells is stopped.
- Late 1990s: Introduction of seat shells made of 100% recyclable polypropylene (PP).
- 2019: Return to fiberglass shells, but with more advanced production methods.
- 2024: End of the PP version and start of the RE version.
From 2024, the seat shells of the Eames Plastic Chair will be made exclusively from recycled plastic sourced from German households.
Eames Plastic Chair RE: New material: post-consumer plastic
The Eames Plastic Chairs RE represent the modern interpretation of the famous Fiberglass Chair. This chair was originally created for the Museum of Modern Art’s „Low Cost Furniture Design“ competition and was the first chair to be industrially manufactured from plastic.
The curved seat shell of the Plastic Chair RE can be combined with different frames. This allows for versatile use, from dining rooms to studies and outdoor areas. In combination with the different color options and upholstery, individually tailored chairs can be created.
Vitra RE Material
Vitra’s main initiative towards sustainability is to create products that are durable and without unnecessary frills. The company’s deep connection to modern design reflects this philosophy. After extensive testing, the Swiss furniture manufacturer has now introduced the Eames Plastic Chairs RE made from German recycled material that meets Vitra’s high quality standards. This recycled material is obtained from German household waste, which is mainly collected via the „Yellow Bag“ and predominantly contains packaging. By using this recycled material instead of the previous crude oil-based primary plastic, fewer harmful emissions are released and considerably less energy is consumed. The color variants of the recycled material have fine pigment spots due to their composition. At the end of their service life, the seat shells can be completely recycled, which is in line with the high ecological standards that Vitra sets in the development and production of new materials and solutions.
Focus on sustainability with Vitra materials:
For Vitra, the choice of materials is paramount as it influences almost 90% of the company’s total CO2 footprint. Vitra therefore attaches great importance to using materials that are both environmentally friendly and sustainable. Materials are constantly reviewed, with independent institutes monitoring and evaluating production methods. If a more environmentally friendly material is discovered that meets Vitra’s quality standards and passes all the stringent tests, suitable products are made from it. Sometimes these innovations are visible, but often they are hidden inside a product. Recently, Vitra has focused on the use of recycled materials. The reason? For Vitra, waste is a valuable commodity that should be preserved and reused in the production cycle to create high-quality products.