Source: Birmingham City UniversityConcerned about the number of office chairs being discarded each year, a product design student from Birmingham City University has found a new purpose for the old furniture: hardshell backpacks.

By dismantling the office chairs, student Thomas Howell-Jones determined that the backrest of the chair could be converted into a durable, water- and impact-proof bag that can be carried like a backpack or attached to a bicycle (bicycle panniers).

Howell-Jones said: "Realizing that a backpack was possible from office chair waste was the turning point for the project. This allowed me to continue detailed investigation and development showing results seen today."

With more than 810,000 office chairs being discarded each year, Howell-Jones hopes his bag, called Rest, will be just the first of many repurposing possibilities helping to reduce waste. Currently, Thomas-Howell is looking to transform other every-day products, such as bicycle inner tubes, to prevent waste.

"Materializing the office chair backrest shell allowed Rest to be as functional as possible whilst also supplying an impact resistance and waterproof bag. The process from realization to outcome was very enjoyable and I now look forward to developing the range."