Vitra uses a variety of high-quality plastics for its furniture products, depending on the desired characteristics. Special additives are employed in the manufacture of outdoor products to retard the fading of colours caused by UV radiation. When it comes to plastics, it is always important to consider whether newer, more environmentally sensible alternatives are available. For this reason, four different plastics have been used in the production of the Panton Chair since 1967. The plastics most often used by Vitra are polypropylene and polymide, both of which are recyclable thermoplastics.