how SUN'Y beach chairs are made from ocean plastic

Every ESCAPES chair saves 19 plastic bottles from reaching the ocean. Here’s the story behind the product.

Every year, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean. It breaks down into microplastics, harms marine life, and accumulates in ecosystems that take decades to recover. The scale of it is hard to wrap your head around. But the solutions start with what we choose to buy and use.

At SUN’Y, we decided that the products people bring to the beach should be part of the solution, not part of the problem. That’s why our ESCAPES beach chair is built from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic.

What “Ocean-Bound Plastic” Means

Ocean-bound plastic is waste that’s been collected within 50 kilometers of a coastline or waterway before it reaches the sea. This is the plastic most likely to end up in the ocean—sitting in coastal landfills, littering beaches, or flowing through rivers toward open water.

By intercepting this material and turning it into something useful, we prevent it from completing that journey. Every ESCAPES chair represents 19 plastic bottles diverted from the ocean.

The Process: From Bottle to Chair

Step 1: Collection

We partner with certified collection programs in coastal communities. Workers collect plastic waste—primarily PET bottles—from beaches, waterways, and at-risk areas. These programs also create jobs in communities where waste infrastructure is limited.

Step 2: Sorting and Cleaning

The collected plastic is sorted by type, cleaned, and processed. Contaminants are removed. The clean PET is shredded into flakes.

Step 3: Processing into Yarn

The PET flakes are melted and extruded into fine filaments—essentially plastic thread. These filaments are spun into yarn that’s strong, UV-resistant, and surprisingly soft.

Step 4: Weaving the Fabric

The recycled yarn is woven into the durable mesh fabric that forms the seat and back of the ESCAPES chair. This fabric needs to support body weight, resist UV degradation, and hold up to salt, sand, and water. Recycled PET meets all of those requirements.

Step 5: Assembly

The recycled fabric is assembled with a lightweight aluminum frame (also recyclable), ergonomic armrests, and our signature backpack strap system. The result is a chair that weighs under 8 pounds, carries like a backpack, and keeps plastic out of the ocean.

Why Recycled Materials Matter for Beach Products

Beach products are uniquely positioned to make an environmental impact. They’re used at the beach—the exact place where plastic pollution is most visible and most harmful. When you sit in a chair made from ocean plastic, you’re sitting in the solution.

There’s also a practical argument. Recycled PET has properties that make it ideal for outdoor gear:

• UV resistance: PET doesn’t break down easily in sunlight, which means it lasts longer as chair fabric.
• Water resistance: It dries quickly and doesn’t absorb moisture, which is exactly what you want at the beach.
• Strength: Recycled PET yarn has a high tensile strength relative to its weight.
• Colorfastness: The dyes bond well with PET, so colors stay vibrant even after extended UV exposure.

The Numbers Behind the Impact

• 19 bottles saved per chair from reaching the ocean.
• Under 8 lbs total chair weight—lighter than most conventional chairs.
• 300 lbs weight capacity despite the lightweight build.
• Recyclable aluminum frame at end of life.

What We’re Working On Next

The ESCAPES chair is just the beginning. We’re actively developing more products using recycled ocean-bound materials—including umbrellas, bags, and accessories. The goal is a full beach setup where every component has a sustainability story.

We’re also working to increase transparency in our supply chain, so you can trace the journey of the plastic in your specific chair from collection point to finished product.

Your Purchase Makes a Difference

Sustainability at scale starts with individual choices. When you buy an ESCAPES chair, you’re not just getting a great beach chair. You’re supporting coastal cleanup programs, reducing plastic pollution, and proving that consumer demand for sustainable products is real.

That’s not marketing. That’s math. 19 bottles per chair, multiplied by every person who makes this choice.

Want to see the ESCAPES chair in action? Follow us @sunyvibesig for real beach setups from our community.