How to create a sustainable chair

Emeco, the Aluminium Chair Company have been hand-making their products in the same factory since 1944. It’s not an easy process. In fact it takes 77 steps or 50 hands 8 hours to make each chair. All products are made from 80% recycled aluminium and designed to last an amazing 150 years bringing new meaning to the word ‘sustainable’.

The content of recycled aluminum used to make Emeco chairs is 80%. Of the recycled aluminum, half is post consumer (soft drink cans) and half is postindustrial (manufacturing scrap). Chairs made out of virgin aluminum have an energy density that is 17 times higher than that of Emeco chairs.

Emeco chairs have an indestructible finish. They are hand brushed then anodized. An electronic process turns aluminium to aluminium oxide, making it nearly as hard as diamonds. Each chair is polished 3 times by hand. Firstly the parts, then the assemblies and finally the completed chair.