Vitra presents Tip Ton Re, made with local household waste subjected to creative recycling
Vitra's R&S has always paid particular attention to research on new materials to develop new products and to enhance, integrate or replace existing ones.
Creative recycling and circular economy
In fact, the team managed to create the first product entirely made with high quality household waste, subject to creative recycling, following the principle of the circular economy. The waste used was collected locally in Germany. The plastic, after being separated from metals and other composite materials, is crushed and transformed into a high-level reusable granulate. To allow the seat to enjoy the necessary level of stability and quality, a quantity of glass fiber is integrated together with the recycled material. Furthermore, no other dye is added: Tip Ton Re's gray is the natural color of the recycled material.
Since the initial launch of Tip Ton (Edward Barber - Jay Osgerby) in 2011 this chair has been used in many schools and libraries. The seat is resistant, sturdy, easy to clean and it is possible to stack up to four in height. “We wanted the material to remain as clean as possible… ..The slight variation of the recycled material gives it depth and gives it a story, just as the structure of a piece of wood tells us how the tree grew,” says Christian Grosen Rasmusse, Chief Design Officer of Vitra.
