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
Outdoor€299Bat Dining Chair Outdoor
€399Bat Dining Chair
Front Upholstered€899Bat Dining Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,199Bat Dining Chair
Un-Upholstered€599Bat Lounge Chair
Fully Upholstered€2,499Bat Meeting Chair
Front Upholstered€999Bat Meeting Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,299Bat Ottoman
Fully Upholstered€999Beetle Dining Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered€1,199Beetle Sofa
€3,999Beetle Stool
€699Beetle Ottoman
€699Beetle Meeting Chair
Un-Upholstered€449Beetle Meeting Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,499Beetle Lounge Chair
€2,299Beetle Dining Chair
Un-Upholstered€349Beetle Dining Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,299Beetle Dining Chair
Front Upholstered€899Beetle Counter Stool
€899Beetle Counter Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered€1,499Beetle Bar Stool
€899Beetle Bar Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,199Beetle Bar Chair
3D Veneer - Front Upholstered€1,299Beetle Counter Chair
Fully Upholstered€1,199Beetle Meeting Chair - Front Upholstered
€1,299