BEETLE & BAT IN RECYCLED PLASTIC
Two iconic designs embrace circularity
AN ICON REINVENTED
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.
HALF THE VIRGIN MATERIALS AND ALL THE STYLE
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.
CAREFULLY SELECTED PLASTIC
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.
PURITY, STRENGTH & DURABILITY
Throughout the process, stringent quality control measures are implemented to ensure that the recycled plastic meets standards for purity, strength, and durability.
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.
RESPONSIBLE COMPANION
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 Gold-certified 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.
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 Blue Angel 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.
CLOSING THE LOOP ON THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
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.
EXPLORE MORE BEETLE & BAT PRODUCTS
Beetle Dining Chair
Outdoor299 €Bat Dining Chair Outdoor
399 €Bat Dining Chair
Front Upholstered899 €Bat Dining Chair
Fully Upholstered1 199 €Bat Dining Chair
Un-Upholstered599 €Bat Lounge Chair
Fully Upholstered2 499 €Bat Meeting Chair
Front Upholstered999 €Bat Meeting Chair
Fully Upholstered1 299 €Bat Ottoman
Fully Upholstered999 €Beetle Dining Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered1 199 €Beetle Sofa
3 999 €Beetle Stool
699 €Beetle Ottoman
699 €Beetle Meeting Chair
Un-Upholstered449 €Beetle Meeting Chair
Fully Upholstered1 499 €Beetle Lounge Chair
2 299 €Beetle Dining Chair
Un-Upholstered349 €Beetle Dining Chair
Fully Upholstered1 299 €Beetle Dining Chair
Front Upholstered899 €Beetle Counter Stool
899 €Beetle Counter Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered1 499 €Beetle Bar Stool
899 €Beetle Bar Chair
Fully Upholstered1 199 €Beetle Bar Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered1 299 €Beetle Counter Chair
Fully Upholstered1 199 €Beetle Meeting Chair - Front Upholstered
1 299 €