GUBI releases GamFratesi’s Beetle and Bat collections in recycled plastic

TWO ICONIC DESIGNS EMBRACE CIRCULARITY

GUBI releases GamFratesi’s Beetle and Bat collections in recycled plastic

In 2013, GUBI made design history with the launch of the Beetle Chair by GamFratesi. Then five years later, it happened again with the Bat. Both inspired by nature, the designs swiftly became some of the most beloved chairs in the GUBI Collection, cherished for their flexibility, elegance, and chameleonic ability to suit any setting. Now, the story of these pioneering designs enters a new chapter, with the launch of the Beetle and Bat in recycled plastic.

In a major step towards more responsible production, GUBI has redeveloped GamFratesi’s beloved designs using a recycled-plastic composite. Utilizing advanced technology and customized material blends comprising over 50% recycled plastic, GUBI has been able to make production significantly more responsible, while retaining the same quality and performance as virgin plastic. Every variant of both Beetle and Bat will now be available in the new material – a leap forward in GUBI’s journey towards phasing out virgin plastic.

‘Beetle and Bat are among the most popular designs in the GUBI Collection, and the flagship pieces of our contemporary portfolio. It is right that these chairs should represent GUBI’s statement of intent about circular design and responsible material use. Moving to recycled plastic is a hugely important step in our journey towards meaningful sustainability as a design business.’
– Marie Kristine Schmidt, Chief Brand Officer, GUBI

While the design and molding process remains unchanged, the material sourcing and processing stages are different. The uniquely contoured shapes of the Beetle and Bat require a bespoke material composition in order to ensure the structural rigidity of the shell. Therefore, carefully selected plastic from post-consumer waste – including packaging materials and other discarded plastic items from households, businesses, and recycling centers – is combined with plastic from industrial waste streams, including scrap plastic generated during manufacturing. After being sorted by type and color, the plastic is cleaned and shredded, before being melted down and made into pellets suitable for injection molding.

Throughout the process, stringent quality control measures are implemented to ensure that the recycled plastic meets standards for purity, strength, and durability. The resulting chairs look as good and perform as well as they always have, while halving the virgin materials required, leading to a significant reduction in GUBI’s environmental impact. At the end of the chairs’ lives, the Beetle and Bat’s constituent plastic can be recycled endlessly, closing the loop on the circular economy.

With the new material comes a new range of color options. Created by introducing pigments to the plastic at the molding phase, the three new shades – Fern Green, Lunar Gray, and Mocha Brown – ensure there is still a Beetle and Bat for every interior setting – with three options for outdoor use in the existing colorways of Black, New Beige, and Alabaster White. Because the composition of recycled plastic is inherently different from the virgin equivalent, specks of pigment can appear in the shell and minor variations in color reflect the diversity of materials incorporated – in effect, every chair’s aesthetic is unique.

‘Plastic-recycling technology has advanced significantly in the last five years. Thanks to GUBI’s bespoke material blend, it is now possible to offer customers a choice of beautiful colors and a standard of structural performance that would never have been possible previously.’
– Marie Kristine Schmidt, Chief Brand Officer, GUBI

Recycled plastic is also used to make the shells of the upholstered Beetle and Bat chairs, with recycled polypropylene used to make the foam insert. New fabrics, from Kvadrat’s Sahco collection, have been selected for their sustainabile properties. Dense, glossy, and textured, with shiny viscose bouclé yarn, Acca and Acca Stripe are woven using 33% recycled cotton, 25% recycled polyester, and 7% recycled polyacrylic. Both are Greenguard Goldcertified in terms of air quality and low chemical emissions, making them a fitting companion to the recycled plastic. Acca and Acca Stripe are available in a range of eight colors, with the dynamic irregular tonal bands of Acca Stripe offering three options in muted contrasts of white and calico, rusty brown, and turquoise blue.

GUBI has also introduced a leather option, Paloma – an elegantly timeless semi-aniline leather that is soft and smooth to the touch. Available in 12 colors, and certified to Blauer Engel environmental standards, Paloma is robust and durable enough to excel in both the home and commercial settings. Alongside Paloma, GUBI debuts Valencia, its first faux leather upholstery fabric. Certified carbon-neutral and REACH-compliant, Valencia offers the look and feel of leather with minimal ethical or environmental compromise.