The Peel Chair

A beautiful combination of functionality and environmental responsibility, the innovative Peel chair is 100% compostable.

Viewing 12 million tons of annual furniture waste in the U.S. as a catalyst for meaningful change rather than a bleak fact, San Francisco-based Prowl Studio has partnered with M4 Factory and Studio Veratate to create an alternative to plastic stacking chairs. Named Peel, this innovative chair is made from hemp and is 100% compostable. A great example of sustainable design, the project offers a green solution to the global problem of fast furniture, which not only produces extreme amounts of waste in landfills, but also uses low quality and often toxic materials. By contrast, Peel features natural hemp and biopolymers in an innovative blend of materials.

The studio took inspiration from the hemp harvesting process and the removal of some parts of the plant for reuse. Blending function and environmental responsibility, Peel features an industrially compostable hemp-based bioplastic frame. M4 Factory developed the composite material by combining biopolymers and byproducts of hemp processing which usually transform into waste. As for the seat and backrest, they feature bespoke cushions made with a hemp bioleather cover and a foam filling. The materials boast a textured surface and natural colors, bringing an organic accent to interiors.

Apart from featuring natural and compostable materials, the Peel chair also promotes the idea of disposing of furniture and products responsibly at the end of their lifespan. For example, the structural frame can be industrially composted and the cushion can be composted at home.

Prowl Studio showcased the Peel chair during Milan Design Week 2023 at Alcova, in the Expect Death exhibition. Apart from the chair, the exhibition also introduced visitors to the project’s manufacturing story, through an animation by Dada Projects. Photography by Noah Webb.