Page 37 - eBook_Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Manufacturing V1

Mechanical Performance and Structural Feasibility of Recycled HDPE in
Furniture Design: Experimental and Finite Element Analysis

especially those derived from petroleum, such as high-density
polyethylene (HDPE).

These plastics persist in the environment, posing severe threats
to ecosystems and human health through pollution and toxic
emissions when improperly disposed, especially when incinerated
at low temperatures under uncontrolled conditions (Sánchez-Soto,
Rossa, Sánchez & Gámez-Pérez, 2008).

Given these environmental concerns, the recycling of plastic
waste emerges as a vital strategy to mitigate the negative impacts
associated with plastic pollution. Recycling not only minimises
the reliance on virgin materials, but also contributes significantly
to energy conservation, waste reduction, and environmental
protection (Wang, Liu & Zhang, 2018). Specifically, HDPE
recycling presents notable potential due to its advantageous
properties, including high strength, chemical resistance, and
excellent compatibility in composite manufacturing, making it
suitable for producing robust and sustainable products such as
furniture (Sánchez-Soto, Rossa, Sánchez & Gámez-Pérez, 2008).

Recent studies indicate that furniture manufacturing using
recycled HDPE (rHDPE) can effectively integrate environmental
sustainability with economic efficiency. For instance, rHDPE has
shown promising results in composite material performance,
particularly when applied to products such as ergonomic seating
furniture, where both mechanical properties and users’ comfort
are critical (Chen, Tang & Xu, 2021). The mechanical properties
of recycled plastics have been systematically evaluated,
demonstrating significant potential in terms of strength and
durability, which are comparable or sometimes superior to
traditional materials (Rahman, Kadir & Ahmad, 2022).

Moreover, the integration of ergonomic and anthropometric
considerations in the design process further enhances the utility
and acceptance of recycled plastic furniture. Ergonomic designs
based on anthropometric data specific to user populations
significantly improve product usability and users’ comfort,

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