Smurfit Kappa has worked with a local entrepreneur to launch a portable and sustainable chair ahead of the Pope’s visit to Ireland.
John McGarry developed the chair after being on his feet for hours at sporting events and concerts, and he said with over half a million reported to be interested in the Pope’s visit he felt it was the perfect time to launch the chair.
He approached Smurfit Kappa Display in Tallaght with the idea and worked with a team there testing designs and prototypes to make it a reality.
The chair, which is sold flat and takes seconds to assemble, is made from corrugated board and can withhold a weight of up to 100kg. The design features an image of the Pope and the chair is 100% recyclable.
Porta-Pope
John McGarry said: “I heard that people could be on their feet for up to eight hours when they go to see the Pope. This chair is very lightweight and has a handle so it’s completely portable.
“Alongside being a great souvenir of this historic day, it’s completely biodegradable and made from Forest Stewardship Council approved paper.”
John O’Loughlin, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Ireland added: “We welcomed the opportunity to work with John to create the Pope’s chair.
“At Smurfit Kappa, we’re always keen to identify sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and this chair is the perfect solution for people who may need to sit down either on their way to or inside the Phoenix Park.”
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
