MNN - Mother Nature Network

The phrase “plastic lawn and garden furniture” doesn’t, ahem, sit easily with me. The first thing that comes to mind is standard-issue, $10, white plastic “patio chairs” that are broken or sullied — I’ve accidentally destroyed plenty over the years — and thrown away by the time Labor Day rolls around. Not particularly comfortable, perilous to sit in, and equipped with a 5-month lifespan before they are landfilled, plastic outdoor furniture has been long overdue for a makeover.

 

This is where Loll Designs comes into the picture. The Duluth, Minnesota-based manufacturer of “outdoor furniture for the modern lollygagger” has gotten some serious eco-blog loving recently and it doesn’t stop here.

 

Loll’s sturdy, stylish, all-weather outdoor furniture — chairs, tables, benches, and accessories like planters — is proudly made in the USA from 100 percent post-consumer high density polyethylene (HDPE), the ubiquitous petro-based plastic resin used in everything from detergent bottles to plastic bags to hula hoops. The company estimates that for every pound of weight in a Loll chair, eight milk jugs are diverted from landfills.

 

Loll Designs — interestingly, they share the same built-to-last design and manufacturing concept as TrueRide, a skatepark contractor — goes above and behind just using recycled materials. The company boasts an impressive roster of eco-initiatives like teaming up with Carbonfund to offset shipping-related emissions, using recycled cardboard packaging, and planting a tree for each order placed. Basically, if you are on the market for outdoor furniture and are willing to spend a few extra pesos, Loll Designs is as green as it gets.

 

I’ll stop pontificating and let you peruse Loll’s website yourself (there’s also a blog and a “Lollygaggers” section) but here’s a few new and notable products to get you revved up.