Biodegradable Camping Chairs

[lewisowens]

Hi guys,

I'm a product and furniture design student at Sheffield Hallam University. For one of my projects I am trying to reduce the waste that is created at festivals and the impact on the environment that it has. One example would be biodegradable camping chairs. Although this might sound easily breakable, the chair would be robust enough to endure 5 days of wet, muddy and brutal conditions. It would fold up flat pack and be easy to store and transport around the festival. I am just interested to see feedback from you guys on the idea, and if you'd actually be interested in such a product if it was offered at next years Glastonbury. 

Thanks a lot!

[guypjfreak]

interesting old son but imo if it's a nice sunny festival then I personally hate any chairs except for camp ..........but that's not to say that I don't think there's a market out there ...Good luck 

[lewisowens]

1 hour ago, guypjfreak said:

interesting old son but imo if it's a nice sunny festival then I personally hate any chairs except for camp ..........but that's not to say that I don't think there's a market out there ...Good luck 

Thanks a lot!

[grumpyhack]

Glastonbury tried introducing biodegradable tent pegs a few years ago and they were lethal.  Hit them with a hammer and they split into razor sharp shards

I'm a chair person and have carried the same fold up chair around festivals for about ten years.  I pack it away at the end of the fest and take it home.  Surely that's a better option than leaving behind yet more landfill, even if it biodegrades over time.

[lewisowens]

2 hours ago, grumpyhack said:

Glastonbury tried introducing biodegradable tent pegs a few years ago and they were lethal.  Hit them with a hammer and they split into razor sharp shards

I'm a chair person and have carried the same fold up chair around festivals for about ten years.  I pack it away at the end of the fest and take it home.  Surely that's a better option than leaving behind yet more landfill, even if it biodegrades over time.

But the problem is that not everyone is as sensible as you. Glastonbury 2016 there were over 3000 chairs left behind by campers, 5000 tents, 1000 gazebos etc. It's a lot of waste. The point of the project is to try reduce that waste, reduce the carbon foot print or producing them and the product will be much easier to dispose of; potential even have an after life. However, it would just be easier if people could bring and take their chairs with them reducing the huge clean up cost for the organisers.

[alanr]

A few points.

• Any solution which encourages, or justifies leaving anything behind is in my opinion a bad idea
• I am very sceptical about the practicality of producing a biodegradable chair which is strong enough to support a large adult, light enough to carry around and cheap enough to manufacture
• Also on a practical note is the decomposition starts after a week how do you build up the stock required for a large event such as Glastonbury?

Not for me, I'll continue with my tried and tested ErgoLife seat

 

ARR 

[grumpyhack]

3 hours ago, lewisowens said:

But the problem is that not everyone is as sensible as you. Glastonbury 2016 there were over 3000 chairs left behind by campers, 5000 tents, 1000 gazebos etc. It's a lot of waste. The point of the project is to try reduce that waste, reduce the carbon foot print or producing them and the product will be much easier to dispose of; potential even have an after life. However, it would just be easier if people could bring and take their chairs with them reducing the huge clean up cost for the organisers.

Part of the problem is the double-edged sword of Glastonbury encouraging people to travel by coach and train.  If you are knackered after a week of hedonism you are less inclined to pack everything away and lug it to the coach parks than to just pack stuff away in a car - though even that requires an effort.  

I suspect that the areas where least is left are the campervan fields where you can simply pack everything away in your van or caravan.

I speak as someone who never left anything behind when I tented and certainly not now I caravan (at least I would had I a ticket for 2017 - all offers of help gratefully accepted for the resales).

 

 

[lewisowens]

23 hours ago, alanr said:

A few points.

• Any solution which encourages, or justifies leaving anything behind is in my opinion a bad idea
• I am very sceptical about the practicality of producing a biodegradable chair which is strong enough to support a large adult, light enough to carry around and cheap enough to manufacture
• Also on a practical note is the decomposition starts after a week how do you build up the stock required for a large event such as Glastonbury?

Not for me, I'll continue with my tried and tested ErgoLife seat

 

ARR 

I am very aware that it could potentially encourage people to leave more rubbish behind; hence why I'm doing this research. I understand people will be skeptical but I have designed three which all take the weight, extremely light (lighter than generic camping chairs) and could potentially cost on Glastonbury scale around 20p in materials. 

Having designed a few different options, from recycling with incentives to bring the chair back and purely biodegradable options I can tell you they work. The biodegradable chair would be partially made from fertiliser, plant seeds and paper pulp with a coating. Thus, benefiting the fields whilst it degrades. 

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Smeble]

What timescale are you looking at for them to biodegrade?

[whisty]

Not to rain on any recycling parade which is a great idea in principle. Unless it's very clear that they are biodegradable the clean up crew will pick them up and chuck them with the rest of the garbage. If they're as you describe they'll melt down I guess but I'd imagine it's not going to do anything other than decrease the crap in the landfill hole. 

[March Hare]

I think it is a good idea worth exploring. Like cardboard tents

[JacquelineS]

I like the seed idea but they would have to be indigenous to the area as well. 

[HalfAnIdiot]

Perhaps Michael will switch from dairy farming to this:

http://fullgrown.co.uk

Just pitch up next to a fully grown cair or sofa. Perfect.

 

[trevethin]

It is going to be sunny next year

More relevant answer - we bring our own chairs and take them home with us every, single year so it's a no from us.