Why the Red Chair?

Challenge. Innovation. Creativity. Strength. Reinvention. Sustainability.

We think this is the perfect chair to represent the value of women in computing and IT.

The red chair is symbolic.  When women and men “sit” to take a stand, they validate women in computing and IT and recognize them for the important role they play in creating future technology.  The red chair gives all of us a constructive way to show our solidarity and invite others to participate. The bold red color grabs attention and encourages action. By “sitting together” we hold space for an honest conversation and create a platform for online and offline discussions about our challenges and hopes for the future.

Our red chair has a story in itself.

In 2006, Coca-Cola’s recycling plant in Spartanburg South Carolina was brand new and processing thousands of plastic bottles a day and they were looking for ways to show the value of recycled plastic. Everywhere else in the world people recycle about 80% of their bottles while in the US we recycle only about 20%.

For 70 years now, Emeco in Hanover PA, has produced high quality handmade chairs. The 111 Red Navy Chair was a collaboration between Coke and Emeco www.emecowithcoke.com.

Each chair is made from 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles. Each is a piece of art. Partnering with BASF, Emeco put to use an innovative formulation of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles) to create a molded chair of exceptional strength. Each chair is designed to last for 150 years.