Since its introduction in 1950, Eames Shell Chairs have popped up in nearly every setting on the planet, from small-town diners to the lobbies of five-star hotels. The chair’s playful curves are unmistakable and continued popularity has cemented it as a mid-century icon — and its story is about to get even better. The Shell Chair was first introduced in moulded plastic in 2006, and now, Herman Miller’s entire Eames Molded Plastic Chair portfolio will be made using 100% post-industrial recycled plastic — the equivalent of approximately 122 tons of plastic per year and a 15% carbon reduction annually for the beloved product line.*
A collection of the new Eames Molded Plastic Chairs. Photos – courtesy of Herman Miller ©
“Ray and Charles Eames embraced a spirit of continuous reinvention for the Molded Plastic Chair, especially in developing the use of sustainable materials with each iteration,” said Ben Watson, President, Herman Miller. “Herman Miller is honouring that design legacy with the introduction of an Eames Molded Plastic Chair made from 100% recycled plastic, and we will continue to challenge ourselves to pursue meaningful, responsible change.”
The new material formulation is not the only change awaiting the Eames Molded Plastic Chair portfolio. To celebrate the switch to sourcing 100% post-industrial recycled plastic, the brand is introducing a refreshed collection of available shell colours, which will include three of the previously offered colours (Black, White, and Red Orange) and nine new hues: Evergreen, Cocoa, Deep Yellow, Brick Red, Pale Blue, Medium Grey, Blue Green, Grey Green and Light Grey. The colours were specifically chosen to present designers and consumers with an updated palette that spans the basic colour families with a current, cohesive sensibility. The modernized array of shades will bolster the Shell Chair’s distinctive ability to flawlessly incorporate itself into a space, regardless of whether the space is refined, relaxed or somewhere in between.
An Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair
This isn’t the first time the Shell Chair has undergone a material transformation. Ray and Charles’ original 1950 designs were fibreglass, and the line expanded to include bent wire the following year. Eventually, the environmental hazards of working with fibreglass prompted a switch to polypropylene (2006), but evolving material technology made it possible to return to a safer fibreglass option for the environment again in 2013; the introduction of wood finishes followed shortly after. All these options, along with upholstery and seat pads, are still a part of the line today. The Eames Shell Chair was designed on the principle of adaptability, and the vast number of configurations available offers solutions that work for endless applications and environments.
“Part of the responsible design is first making things that will last. The second part is always looking for ways we can improve our designs to make the world more sustainable and equitable for all,” says Watson. “It’s no coincidence Herman Miller pieces like Eames Shell Chairs are often passed down among families or become coveted vintage pieces.”
These shell chair innovations are the most recent in a series of sustainable product updates Herman Miller has implemented. Most recently, the brand introduced the use of ocean-bound plastic in its best-selling Aeron Chair. As part of MillerKnoll, Herman Miller’s product changes are contributing to the greater collective’s 2030 Sustainability Goals, a company-wide strategy dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint, designing out waste, and sourcing better materials throughout the collective of brands.
