Scrap Chair

The SCRAP Chair is a circular design chair made entirely from industrial waste streams. The project is based on a dual ambition: to rethink waste as a raw material and to create a fully fledged, aesthetic piece of furniture that does not compromise on comfort or quality. Sheet remnants are reused for the seat. The perforations in the sheets are not an aesthetic addition, but are the direct result of the industrial punching processes - giving each chair a unique pattern. The frame consists of surplus rebar, carefully bent and welded into a sturdy whole.

The chair is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, in a timeless silhouette that combines relaxation and robustness. The first production run of 50 copies was made at the social enterprise OptimaT, which provides meaningful and sustainable employment for people distanced from the labour market. The chair can be customised in any RAL colour.

The jury on Scrap Chair:

Scrap Chair was conceived as a reproducible mass-produced product, constructed from the solid material streams originating from industrial production processes. But the furniture does not look like it has been made from recycled material; it looks fresh and contemporary. The chairs are elegant, stackable, functional and both easy and versatile to use for a wide audience. Scrap Chair is not just a statement, it is an important and inspiring example of how we could make our products and use industrial waste to a maximum.

What does this award mean to you?

This award is a great boost for a new project that is growing. It serves as recognition that we do not always have to follow the beaten track, but that innovative and out-of-the-box thinking can really make a difference. Circular design can be more than informal upcycling or tinkering; it can also be a thoughtful, structural approach to how we deal with our waste streams. This recognition proves that even high-quality design objects can be created from residual materials.

How did the idea for this project come about?

The idea for this project came from a combination of my urge to make things and the growing realisation that we cannot continue to use resources the way we do today. While writing my thesis on local industry, I was confronted with the huge amount of usable material lost on a daily basis. This insight prompted me to explore that reality myself and examine how waste streams can once again become a valuable raw material - with the Scrap Chair as the first concrete result.

How does it contribute to a better world?

With this project, we want to show that circular design does not have to be a fringe phenomenon, but a fully fledged, viable alternative within the design world. By revaluing residual flows and using them in a thoughtful way, we not only reduce waste, but also create awareness about the value of materials. It is about changing attitudes: from consuming to rethinking. As designers, we can play an active, positive role in this process.

Do you have any further plans for this project?

We are currently exploring how to scale up the project, as long as the specific waste stream remains available. Our goal is to reprocess as much of this material as possible into functional everyday items - an approach that can contribute significantly to reducing industrial waste in the long run. Meanwhile, we have also developed a matching table, and are working on a one-off, gold edition of the Scrap Chair for a special client. So we continue to experiment with the limits of the concept and the value of residual materials.