Garden furniture and outdoor goods: polymer sourcing guide

Chairs, tables, planters, and outdoor storage. UV stability and weight-to-strength balance are the critical specs.

Key requirements

• 5+ year UV stability via HALS additive packages
• Color fastness in saturated pigments (anthracite, terracotta, white)
• Mass-injection cycle time under 60 seconds for chair-back parts
• Stiffness at minimum wall thickness — talc or glass-filled grades common

Procurement notes

UV-stabilised PP impact copolymer with HALS additives is the dominant chemistry. Talc-filled grades (10–20% loading) increase stiffness for chair backs and table tops without adding cycle-time penalty. Curver and Keter are the largest European converters and source via 3–5 year contracts with the major producers. Spot or near-prime PP at €100–200/t below contract is common for non-load-bearing parts (planters, decorative).

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