Why stainless steel is the most sustainable choice for street furniture

Stainless steel as a material for sustainable street furniture

Stainless steel is known for its exceptional durability. It is:

• corrosion-resistant
• weather-resistant
• stable at high and low temperatures
• not prone to vandalism

For street furniture and planters, this means they remain in good working order for many years without losing their aesthetic appeal. Compared to wood or painted steel, they require virtually no maintenance – a clear advantage for long-term projects in public spaces.

Sustainability through 100% recyclability

A key advantage of stainless steel is its ability to be fully recycled. The stainless steel we use is already made from up to 80% recycled material. We use it to create street furniture that, after decades of use, is 100% recyclable.
For us, sustainability means above all durability – and that with virtually no maintenance.

Powder coating: long-lasting colour without harmful substances

All BENKERT products can be manufactured in over 200 standard colours or even 8,500 custom colours. The powder coating used is:

• very sturdy and scratch-resistant
• environmentally friendly
• extremely durable
• UV-resistant

This ensures that colours remain vibrant for a long time, even in strong sunlight, frost and the harshest urban environments – whether on benches, litter bins or stainless steel planters.

Localism as a practical form of sustainability – production in the Altershausen eco-village

One particularly valuable aspect of BENKERT is that all production takes place in Altershausen, a small eco-village in Lower Franconia. Altershausen is part of the town of Königsberg in Bavaria – a region renowned for its tradition of craftsmanship, resource-efficient working practices and strong communities.

The company building, located in the eco-village of Altershausen near Königsberg in Bavaria and designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta, stands as a visible symbol of our values. Here, nature and technology come together in a unique way: transparent roofs harness solar energy, natural thermal insulation is provided by the building’s setting amidst wooded hills, and the village’s wood chip heating system supplies the energy. In this building, we manufacture all our products to the highest environmental standards – from the initial cutting of materials to the fully assembled street furniture. In this way, we not only ensure regional responsibility and excellent quality, but also practise sustainable production in every detail – even when delivering globally. You can find out more about our building and our philosophy on our About Us page

Why stainless steel is the ideal choice for durable street furniture and planters

Stainless steel possesses a range of inherent properties that make it an exceptionally reliable material for long-term use in outdoor settings. Its unique composition ensures that it is highly resistant to the elements – whether extreme heat, frost, intense UV radiation or changing weather conditions. This durability is a key advantage, particularly in public spaces where furniture is subjected to daily wear and tear.

Another advantage is that stainless steel requires very little maintenance. As it is naturally corrosion-resistant, it retains its attractive appearance and functionality even when left untreated. This significantly reduces the amount of maintenance required and provides long-term planning certainty.

Furthermore, stainless steel is particularly well suited to environments where safety and durability are key considerations: it is easy to clean, resistant to vandalism and retains its quality even with intensive daily use.

A key factor in its sustainability is that it is fully recyclable. Stainless steel can be reused indefinitely without any loss of material quality. This makes it ideal for projects where environmental responsibility and durability are key priorities.

Stainless steel: a sustainable and future-proof choice

Stainless steel combines durability, design flexibility and resource efficiency – making it an ideal material for high-quality street furniture and planters. At our company premises in the eco-village of Altershausen, where sustainability is embodied in the very architecture of the building, we manufacture products that will function reliably and bring joy for many years to come.