Jun 7 2008
A South East London furniture manufacturer is turning recycled computer games consoles into eco-friendly furniture.
The Reee chair from Pli.
Pli, based in Dulwich, has devised the ‘The Reee Chair’, using recycled computer games console casings to create connected components for the seat and back.
Designed and manufactured in the UK, the Reee chair competes with virgin plastic rivals on price and quality – but critically communicates the recycling message in what the company describes as a ‘witty, thought provoking way’.
London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) helped the company with research into the plastics market and with the tooling process for recycled plastics.
London MAS also supported environmental design company Sprout Design to help with the design of ‘The Reee Chair’ – and the collaboration resulted in Pli winning an £18,000 grant from London Remade’s Enhance Capital Fund for production tooling.
Says Christopher Pett, Managing Director of Pli Design: “London MAS has been involved in the development of ‘The Reee Chair’ from concept through to market launch. They helped us to identify the right manufacturing process to match the variety of recycled plastics we are using and then gave us training and advice in measuring the sustainable benefits of the various design options we considered. London MAS has even assisted us with the tricky process of creating a market identity for the Reee chair.”
Pli Design is also creating sustainable and affordable furniture from high quality and naturally eco friendly products such as wheat straw and bamboo, which can be disassembled at the end of their useful lives for recycling and composting in municipal waste facilities.
Says Christopher: “We aim to use the latest sustainable materials and production methods in contemporary designs - we are always looking to explore new materials and manufacturing techniques.”