WASTE Recycled Car Upholstery Bean Bag Furniture
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.
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4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Raja
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.
Jul 8th, 2008
Doug
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.
Jul 9th, 2008
MMB
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.
Jul 9th, 2008
Matt
@ 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.
Jul 11th, 2008
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