Milano Design Week hosts debut of Lazzerini’s 100% recycled plastic seat (developed with Nextchem)

A seat made entirely from recycled plastic is being presented by public transport seat producer Lazzerini at Milano Design Week 2026 as part of an industrial collaboration with Nextchem, an Italian technology company within the Maire Group specializing in chemical processes for circular economy and low-carbon solutions.

The installation is open from April 20 to April 26, 2026, with scheduled public access throughout the Milano Design Week program.

Lazzerini goes to Milano Design Week

Lazzerini is showcasing the Re-Compact seat within “The New State of Materials” exhibition curated by Materially, held at Stecca3 in Milan’s Isola district. The product is manufactured entirely from recycled plastic derived from post-consumer waste streams and processed through Nextchem’s NX Replast™ technology, according to the company press release .

The recycling process is carried out at the Bedizzole facility (close to Brescia) operated by MyReplast Industries, a subsidiary of Nextchem. Post-consumer plastics undergo chemical treatment and purification, followed by a mechanical upcycling phase. The output is a polymer compound with performance characteristics aligned with virgin materials in terms of strength, durability, and finish.

The resulting compound is used by Lazzerini as the base material for seat production. The transformation from raw material to finished component involves an integrated design process combining engineering, ergonomics, and compliance with safety requirements applicable to public transport seating systems. The final product is designed for durability and for re-entry into subsequent production cycles.

Lazzerini integrates Pureti photocatalytic treatment

The Re-Compact seat is also treated with Pureti photocatalytic technology. This treatment, activated by exposure to light, enables surfaces to perform self-cleaning functions and to reduce the presence of pollutants, including smog, bacteria, and viruses, as stated in the press release .

Within the exhibition, the material transformation process is presented through a sequence of plexiglass cubes containing polymer granules produced via NX Replast™ technology. These are displayed alongside the finished seat, providing a direct visual connection between raw recycled material and final application.

“Milano Design Week is where design meets people and generates new awareness,” says Innocenzo Carbone, CEO of Lazzerini. “Bringing our Re-Compact seat here means showing how circularity can become form, function, and a design culture. This is not just about technological innovation, but about a shift in perspective: rethinking materials to rethink the future of transport and public spaces.”