Is HDPE Safe for Furniture?
When it comes to durability and affordability, plastic furniture takes the lead. If you get your hands on high-quality plastic, you’ll love its usability and safety standards. HDPE also called poly lumber, is the most common plastic furniture we come across. From outdoor eateries to patios and lawns, you can find HDPE furniture for all categories. But despite being so popular, some concerns always surround HDPE, leaving the buyers confused about its safety.
If you’re also wondering whether poly lumber furniture is safe or not, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’ll explain everything you need to know about HDPE furniture and the potential risks associated with it. Read on to know more about this furniture and decide accordingly!
What is HDPE?
HDPE plastic is a linear hydrocarbon polymer, which is strong, non-toxic, and stain-resistant. This material is made from 100% recycled plastic and doesn’t burden the environment any further. We see high-density polyethylene plastic in multiple everyday items, i.e., milk jugs, food containers, and bottles. Since this plastic is durable and lightweight, manufacturers prefer it for batch production and make various items from it.
After the HDPE items complete their first stint in the market, they’re melted together and mixed with other items to form solid boards for furniture. Manufacturers mix melted HDPE polymer with colorants and foaming agents to attain that wood-like look. And since this new polymer is impressively solid, it’s used for decks and furniture.
Since HDPE is heavier than PVC and resin plastic, it’s a popular furniture material worldwide. Another impressive factor of poly lumber plastic is its rich gradient and variety of colors. Painting this plastic is not mandatory because it achieves a thick stain during the melting and drying process. If you closely observe HDPE outdoor furniture, you’ll see a sign saying “2” on it. This number indicates that the plastic in question is completely recyclable and environmentally friendly.
Is HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) Safe?
Here comes an important question: is HDPE furniture safe? People often consider recycled plastic furniture unsafe because of the myths surrounding this material, but the truth is, they are only myths. Any credible plastic manufacturer will ensure the collected plastic waste goes through the right amount of temperature and pressure in the process. The high heat and temperature environment kills most germs and toxins from the plastic surface, marking it safe for consumer goods.
HDPE plastic is extremely safe, which is the reason it’s used for food containers and beauty products. Even when this HDPE material is 99% recycled, its manufacturing and processing steps make it safe. Poly lumber plastic doesn’t contain formaldehyde, something users often question about. If you’re purchasing HDPE furniture, be sure that it’s free of formaldehyde, lead, and cadmium traces.
Another factor making HDPE plastic safe is its rich color pellet. Since the manufacturers use different colorants and foaming agents while melting HDPE plastic, you don’t have to pain this furniture. Different furniture paints and polished result in organic compound emissions, which are toxic. When we breathe in such an environment, ingesting these toxic traces is never out of the question. But luckily, that’s not the case with HDPE outdoor furniture.
This furniture won’t need a paint retouch, nor will it rust, proving its safety standards. HDPE furniture doesn’t emit toxic gases or fumes in the surrounding air because it is pressure-treated and purified. So, if you have heard the myth of poly lumber furniture being toxic for you or the environment, don’t pay heed to it.
Is HDPE safe for the Environment?
Besides being a safe furniture material, HDPE is also questioned about being environmentally friendly, because after all, it’s plastic. But the good thing is HDPE is always made from recycled plastic and can be recycled multiple times. Instead of letting those food containers and shampoo bottles end in landfills, furniture manufacturers pick them up and make something new from them.
Since high-density polyethylene plastic is category 2, it’s always recyclable and safe for everyday use. Whether you get poly lumber patio chairs or get HDPE furniture for the lounge, you are not polluting the environment. Plastic waste is the modern-day calamity we all are dealing with. But practices like recycling and remodeling can reduce the planet’s plastic burden to a considerable extent.
However, the fume emissions generated in melting and drying this plastic polymer can be hazardous for the air quality. If a recycling plant doesn’t adhere to environmental safety standards, it can be counterproductive. Therefore, the EPA encourages recycling and plastic manufacturing plants to use advanced air filters and waste management systems.
Common Furniture Materials that aren't Safe and Toxin-free
Choosing safe, practical, and durable furniture is in your best interest because it’s often a one-time investment. But sadly, the lack of knowledge often makes people buy furniture which is unsafe and impractical. If you’re also unsure which furniture materials are potentially toxic, here’s a quick list for your assistance:
-Bare Metals
If you’re a fan of heavy metal furniture, make sure it’s coated in good-quality paint before you start using it. Although bare metal furniture doesn’t emit toxic fumes or gases, it quickly gathers rust particles and can be harmful to your health. If you don’t overcome this rusting problem, it can quickly ruin your furniture’s look and cause breathing-related problems. No worries if you already have bare metal furniture because you can overcome this concern by sanding and painting it.
-PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a low-quality material made from plastic waste. This plastic is also recycled and molded like HDPE, but it’s not that safe. Since PVC plastic is produced in large batches, it’s not much durable or safe. That’s the reason PVC is mostly used for drainage pipes and hidden switchboards. Phthalates are added to PVC, making it soft and moldable, but they also make it highly toxic and reactive. Although PVC furniture is very rare because of the obvious health risks associated with it, some manufacturers still make it. If you come across PVC furniture, don’t get it because its risks are endless. It’s better to prefer HDPE or injection molded plastic instead of this variant because they aren’t toxic.
-Resin Plastic
Resin plastic can also be reactive and unsafe if we talk about furniture materials. Thermoset plastic resin can exude toxic gases and emissions, resulting in multiple health conditions. Healthcare experts disregard resin plastic as a furniture or packaging material because of its reactive nature.
-Vinyl
Vinyl is made from the same material as PVC, but it’s slightly different in texture. However, despite these differences, vinyl is still a potentially toxic furniture material. Studies have proved that vinyl releases harmful substances at different manufacturing steps, eventually resulting in health and environmental hazards. And because there’s no widely popular way of recycling or disposing of vinyl, it’s often unsafe for the environment. Besides being potentially toxic, vinyl is also highly combustible and fragile. This furniture might initially look good, but you’ll soon notice signs of chipping and denting on it.
-Laminated Wood
Laminated wooden furniture is widely popular because of its aesthetics and stain resistance. But it’s not a safe option. Most manufacturers sell particleboard items covered with a thin laminated layer, calling it wooden furniture. Now, this option sure looks good, but it’s not safe or sustainable. Firstly, particleboard releases formaldehyde that can cause multiple health conditions. And secondly, the lamination layer is highly combustible and loaded with toxins, making it unsafe for everyday usage.
-Foam
Polyurethane is a famous furniture filling used in sofas, mattresses, and some upholstered surfaces. However, studies have shown that polyurethane foam emits toxins that can be harmful to our cognitive and sexual health. If you’re unsure of your furniture’s filling, ask the manufacturer or do independent research to ensure you don’t buy anything toxic. These toxic gases and fumes don’t show damage signs overnight, but their association with different health risks is enough to warn you.
Conclusion
High-density polyethylene plastic is one of the safest and most durable furniture materials out there. You might have heard myths about poly lumber furniture being toxic or harmful to the environment, but the truth is often the opposite. This plastic is safe for everyday usage and doesn’t give in to the regular wear & tear coming its way.
Firstly, HDPE is 99% recycled plastic, which makes it a smart way of reusing discarded plastic. Furniture manufacturers melt plastic waste to form thick HDPE boards that go into decks and furniture instead of ending in landfills. Secondly, this poly lumber plastic doesn’t release toxic chemicals or gases into the environment during its manufacturing. You can trust this heavy, stain-resistant, and affordable material for different furniture items.
Thanks to the poly lumber furniture’s wood-like appearance, it strikes a good balance between practicality and aesthetics. If you don’t want those shoddy-looking plastic chairs in your home but still wish for something other than wood, poly lumber furniture is your answer. This environment-friendly, sturdy, and pleasant-looking furniture is ideal for modern homes and gardens.
