WASTE is a company based out of Barcelona Spain that uses the waste upholstery from automobiles as the main ingredient for their line of beanbag furniture. “Ideally, no waste would be produced, but as it is, we are committed to transforming the reality of waste into something positive.” Each bean bag is unique (depending on what textiles are currently available), filled with polystyrene beans (for that bean bag feel), and durable as hell due to the nature of automobile upholstery. WASTE strives to be a sustainable and conscientious business by 100% hand sewing their products. They also have formed a partnership with a tailoring organization that works towards women’s social reintegration. Although it would be great to see the fill of the bean bag a recycled material instead of polystyrene beads we commend the effort to use repurposed upholstery.
What is the source of the polystyrene? Polystyrene is not recycled due to the high cost of collecting enough and making it dense enough to melt or re-form.
Polystyrene beads are made from environmentally harmful chemicals petroleum same as foam and are created new. They can’t be recycled in the bags because stores will not allow them to be sold. So for every cover they recycle they put more polystyrene bead waste in to the environment. Use your heads and move out of the beanbag world or use an organic filler like cotton. Beanbags are good for a quick buck if you can charge enough for them but the company obviously is talented. Use your heads think out of the box and create something new. You will be rewarded….but not overnight. Great design take it all the way your customers will appreciate it.
It seems the polystyrene in the bags is not recycled (or is not stated as so). Although it would be ideal if the fill was from a recycled source we commend the innovative use of waste car upholstery.
I wonder if WASTE is taking advantage of the current “green” trend, or if they are truly trying to help the environment. If they were true environmentalists, they would know that the use of harmful, non-recyclable polystyrene completely negates any good being done by recycling the auto upholstery.
Polystyrene is truly awful stuff. It is not recycled due to the high costs, as Raja points out. The process of making polystyrene or pollutes the air and creates large amounts of liquid, gas and solid waste. Styrene, its active ingredient, is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA . The ill effects of chronic exposure are well-documented, so you better not spend too much time in that bean bag!
If that’s not bad enough, polystyrene is made with petroleum, and its manufacture releases hydrocarbons into the air, causing pollution and playing havoc with ozone levels. Polystyrene is often dumped into the environment as litter. When it breaks into little pieces, they can choke animals and clog their digestive systems. This is especially a problem with marine life.
@ MMB
Good Point! There are a lot more environmentally friendly alternatives out there that they could use. Even if they were to source an reuse used or waste polystyrene beads that would be better than putting more of those devilish little while balls out into the world.
Just wanted to say great job with the blog, today is my first visit here and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so far
Juan
great post, thanks
Just cant believed that materials that made this car is all recycled, yet all those receycled materials that put together formed a beautiful masterpiece..
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