The Recycled Plastic Patio Furniture Buyer’s Guide

Table Of Contents

What is Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture? Why Should You Choose Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture? Lifespan Climate Top Brands Cleaning and Care Repairing and Replacing Key Takeaways

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What is recycled plastic outdoor furniture?

You might be wondering, what exactly is recycled plastic patio furniture? What’s it made out of, and why should you choose that material over others? The material that makes up recycled plastic outdoor furniture can contain many different kinds of polymers, all rated for outdoor use. The most defining feature of it, of course, is that the materials must be recycled. The furniture can be made from resin, polyethylene, polycarbonate, or some acrylics. This furniture can also be called poly lumber outdoor furniture or poly wood patio furniture, if the recycled plastic is blended with natural wood fibers.

Generally, when you hear “recycled plastic,” you’re most likely hearing about a material made from:

• High density polyethylene (HDPE)
• UV-inhibited pigment systems
• Foaming compounds
• Selected additives

The main compound that makes up most HDPE patio furniture you can buy today is raw plastic material that was used by consumers at one point. Think detergent bottles, milk jugs, shampoo containers, and post-consumer stuff like that. The used consumer goods are cleaned very carefully, melted down, refined, and then can be molded into composite outdoor furniture! If you want to learn more about how the process works and what kind of plastics are recycled, check out this short article that goes even further into the high density polyethylene process!

Typically, HDPE materials end up being about 90% recycled plastic, which is far more than other plastic products like polypropylene or polycarbonate. Sustainability is a hot topic right now and even little things can make a difference. Purchasing patio furniture made from recycled plastic is a great way to help the environment and engage in a quick and easy sustainability practice.

Why should you choose recycled plastic patio furniture?

Sustainability

As I mentioned briefly, purchasing recycled plastic patio furniture is great for the environment! Being made from recycled plastic means less waste ending up in landfills (which is always a good thing). Plus, if you’re not purchasing wood patio furniture, you’re saving trees and reducing your carbon footprint. If you are interested in a quick calculation of your carbon footprint, check out this free carbon footprint calculator.

Maintenance

Another great benefit of resin outdoor furniture? It’s basically maintenance free. No rust, no repainting, and you won’t have to worry about refinishing it like teak furniture. Most, if not all recycled plastic is UV treated so you don’t have to worry about colors fading in the sun. Once you figure out the perfect composite outdoor furniture set-up, you’re good to go!

Cost

Recycled plastic outdoor furniture is often cheaper than any other types of patio furniture. The ones made strictly from molded plastic require less work to manufacture. They don’t have any wood, aluminum, or cast iron so they’re also much lighter. This makes a big difference if you’re ordering online and planning on having them shipped to you. If they somehow get ruined or you want to replace them with different colors it won’t break the bank to upgrade.

The price difference is abundantly clear when you start comparing recycled plastic to other patio furniture materials. And it’s normal to worry that composite patio furniture might look cheaper than other types of patio furniture. While it won’t look like high-end wrought iron, the molds and colors available look so similar to natural wood that sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference! Here’s a quick price comparison to give you an idea of the general costs. Check out some more recycled plastic patio furniture options.

5 Piece Recycled Plastic Dining Set

Monaco 5 Piece HDPE Dining Set

In the comparison between these two 5 piece dining sets, you can see that the recycled plastic option is much cheaper. It’s not quite as luxury, but you don’t have to completely sacrifice style when shopping for recycled plastic patio furniture.

Extra Benefits

• Lightweight – easy to move around and store
• Wide range of colors
• Waterproof (no metal, won’t rust)
• Pretty tough to break plastic

Lifespan

Well-made and well-maintained poly wood outdoor furniture or recycled plastic patio furniture will last a lifetime (or until you decide you want something new). You never have to worry about rotting wood, cracking wood, rust, or almost any other issue that is commonly found in patio furniture. The material is UV protected so you don’t need to worry about colors fading. If you leave your poly lumber outdoor furniture out in the sun for 15+ years you’ll most likely start to see some fading, but you won’t have to worry about that for a while!

POLYWOOD is a great option if you have a big family, kids, pets, you name it. The plastic is sturdy and durable so it can take all kinds of abuse. If you’re looking for affordable patio furniture for a commercial space, POLYWOOD is a fantastic option. The durable nature of this material means that it can withstand the traffic that is unique to commercial spaces.

One of the downsides that is frequently brought up with plastic patio furniture is the lightweight nature of the material. This is a legitimate concern, especially in places that are prone to high winds. POLYWOOD patio furniture is a great solution here because it’s actually much heavier than your run of the mill, box store plastic patio furniture. The chairs weigh anywhere between 30-50 lbs. If you’ve seen a 50 lb weight casually blowing around, let me know!

Climate

Top Brands

The best recycled plastic outdoor furniture brand is far and away POLYWOOD. They have the biggest selection and a huge range of prices. Harmonia Living is another brand that offers recycled plastic patio furniture but the selection is very minimal. If you’re planning on purchasing this kind of patio furniture, POLYWOOD is your best option.

Polywood Dining Set Examples

(check each product for current price)

Cleaning and Care

Cleaning and taking care of composite poly wood is a pretty easy task that doesn’t have to be done very often. All you’ll really need is soap and warm water. A soft bristled brush is recommended to effectively get into any cracks and creases. For general cleaning, a sponge or washcloth should work just fine. If you’re dealing with any tough stains, a mixture of ⅓ bleach and ⅔ warm water should do the trick without having any negative effects on the color. If you really want to get after it, a pressure washer that’s at or below 1,500 psi will work as well. All the hardware that the polywood brand uses is stainless steel. According to their website, the hardware has a high level of corrosion resistance. If you live in an area that leads to your patio furniture coming in contact with salt spray (near the ocean) the hardware can easily be cleaned with soap and warm water.

As for cushions, the gold standard for patio furniture cushions is Sunbrella Fabrics. They are the most resistant to fading from UV rays and are considered to be the industry standard for quality patio cushions.

Repairing and Replacing

The POLYWOOD brand of recycled plastic patio furniture has an unbeatable warranty. It is really a testament to their long lifespan and durability. According to their website, they have a 20 year limited warranty for residential use on all of their patio furniture. The commercial use warranty is only 1 year, but that’s to be expected with the high traffic of commercial settings. For the aluminum frames, hardware, and sling material, the residential warranty is 5 years, commercial is 1 year.

Overall, you’re getting some serious bang for your buck when purchasing recycled plastic outdoor furniture. With proper care, your patio furniture will last you a couple decades.

And if you’re looking for a buying guide for all patio furniture, we’ve got you covered!