Adding recycled plastic planters and train station seating can transform cold, industrial spaces into greener, more welcoming environments. Recycled plastic planter seating improves passenger comfort, supports sustainability goals, maximises space, and helps create healthier, more accessible transport hubs.
Table of Contents
- Planters and seating make train stations more welcoming, attractive, and community-focused.
- Plants can help improve air quality by capturing pollutants commonly found on busy platforms.
- Combined planter seating enhances passenger comfort while making better use of limited platform space.
- Modular seating solutions can improve accessibility and inclusivity for all travellers.
- Recycled plastic products support sustainability goals by repurposing waste materials.
- Planter seating helps maximise underused station areas and improve station layouts.
- Greener, more comfortable spaces can increase passenger satisfaction, especially during delays or overcrowding.
- Recycled plastic furniture offers a durable, low-maintenance, long-term investment for transport environments.
Train Station Seating on Platforms can really be enhanced with British Recycled Plastic Products. We explore various areas as to how and why.
Outdoor train station areas across the UK are often characterised by their cold, industrial aesthetic. This, however, presents a unique opportunity for transformation. Take our recent customer, Tree Council, mentions,
“The planters are great and are perfect for our upcoming project with Petersfield Outdoor Platform.”
We also want to share a project from Sam, who runs a community initiative in Weston-Super-Mare, ‘Grow Feral’, which is developed the Open Returns Garden on platform 2 of Weston-Super-Mare station.
“The aim was to establish the platform 2 garden into a thriving space and engage local communities to join regular growing and gardening sessions to benefit from being out in nature and support the ongoing development and maintenance of the garden. The results have been fantastic.”
This inspiring community project demonstrates the potential of train stations to become hubs of community and nature.
Building on such initiatives, incorporating planter seating is not merely an aesthetic enhancement but a strategic move to create healthier, more welcoming, and sustainable environments.
There are numerous reasons why we believe that train station seating should include planters, but ultimately, we believe that incorporating planters into train station seating offers a multi-faceted approach to improving the passenger experience. Not only will it create more inviting and attractive public spaces, but it will also present an opportunity to foster community engagement with nature. By incorporating edible plants, train stations can even become potential sources of fresh produce, contributing to local food systems and promoting healthy eating.
5 Benefits of Using Recycled Plastic on Train Platforms
1. Improve Air Quality
The report produced by Environment International on Air quality on UK diesel and hybrid trains states that levels of harmful particles (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were significantly higher on train platform stations when they were stopped at stations compared to when they were moving between stations.
Introducing air-purifying plants could be a natural solution. We share some insight from Garden designer Lottie Delamain, who advises on how best to plant your garden for pollution-absorbing effects. Evergreen varieties like Osmanthus and Bay trees can thrive in containers and work year-round to detoxify the air. Similarly, Lady’s Mantle, with its hairy leaves and Wallflowers, known for their vibrant spring blooms, can help capture harmful pollutants. By incorporating these plants into station design alongside some crop foods, we can create healthier and more pleasant environments for passengers. The image opposite shows an example of our Modular recycled plastic planters being used as a smog shield to help reduce car emissions around school drop off zones.
2. Enhance Passenger Experience
Reco Lift Solutions states that a staggering 40% of UK train stations are inaccessible to disabled and elderly passengers. This lack of inclusivity is compounded by limited platform space, making it challenging to provide adequate seating. Not only is this something to take into account, but over 50% of regular train users stated that there is never enough seating on train platforms and they are rather uncomfortable, especially the circular metal bar designs.
Our modular Marsden planter and seating options offer a practical and visually appealing solution. By combining seating with planters, we create multifunctional spaces that cater to the needs of all passengers. Our flexible modular design allows for optimal use of available space, even in the most challenging station environments.
3. Promote Sustainability
Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Our supply chain is meticulously managed to ensure minimal environmental impact, aligning with our broader sustainability goals. Watch our YouTube Video on how we make our recycled plastic products.
The transport industry contributes significantly to pollution, accounting for over 28% of the UK’s total emissions. Incorporating some of the recycled plastic planters and seating options into train stations and train station platforms offers a dual benefit. It enhances passenger experience and contributes to a greener future.
4. Maximise Space
Our modular planter seating offers a practical and efficient solution for maximising space. By transforming underutilised areas into functional and inviting seating spaces, our products can really help optimise station layouts.
Check out how our customer from It’s In Nottingham used our Modular Marsden Planters and Seating to create an urban garden on vacant land areas of Nottingham that can do with a bit of TLC in the space.
Using our modular units, you can design a seamless, pleasant place to rest while enhancing the overall aesthetics of the station environment.
5. Increase Passenger Satisfaction
By addressing issues such as limited seating and inaccessible stations, we can create a more positive and enjoyable travel experience. Vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable seating options within train stations can contribute to a more pleasant environment, potentially reducing passenger frustration caused by delays or overcrowding. The photo on the right of this text showcases the Tree Council who used our Marsden Planters for the outdoor train station platform in Petersfield.
Why Recycled Plastic Products For Train Station Seating?
- Sustainable Solution – You’re giving new life to plastic waste, minimising environmental impact.
- Low Maintenance – Enjoy your outdoor space without the hassle of constant upkeep.
- Long-lasting Beauty – Recycled plastic retains its look for years, saving you time and money.
Don’t be fooled by the initial price tag. Recycled plastic offers a smart investment for your outdoor areas. Its durability, low maintenance needs, and long lifespan translate to significant cost savings in the long run. Plus, you’re contributing to a more sustainable future.
Email: info@britishrecycledplastic.co.uk
or give us a call on
01422 419 555
Let’s work together to create a greener, more sustainable future for our schools and communities.
Written by the British Recycled Plastic team
Updated June 2026
Due to its exceptional durability, recycled plastic furniture can last outdoors for an incredibly long time. In fact, British Recycled Plastic offers a 25-year guarantee on all of our products. But we believe it will last a lifetime.
One of our recycled plastic benches has been in a public space in the Calder Valley region for over 15 years, exposed to all the elements, and it’s still going strong! This is a testament to the durability of recycled plastic material.
This bench has been serving up scenic views on Hollins Lane for 15 years, and guess what? It hasn’t aged a day (thanks…
Posted by British Recycled Plastic on Wednesday 3 July 2024
Who benefits from this longevity?
Schools outdoor furniture – Enjoy years of worry-free use, even with heavy wear and tear from students.
Public Parks & Councils outdoor furniture – Reduce maintenance costs and replacements, ensuring a consistently tidy and inviting space for the community.
Hostels & Caravan Parks outdoor furniture – Provide durable and low-maintenance furniture that can withstand frequent use and various weather conditions.
Recycled plastic furniture is the ideal choice for anyone seeking a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution for their outdoor spaces.
Is British Recycled Plastic flammable – Yes it is. If it has a flame maintained against it, it will eventually catch fire and burn like wood. While we appreciate that this isn’t what everyone would like, it is essential to the overall sustainability of our recycled plastic as adding a fire retardant would mean that it could not melt and therefore be subsequently recycled at the end of its life.
(As per the criteria of UL94 horizontal burn test, our recycled plastic has been classified as HB, which is an equivalent of BS EN 60695-11-10:- Part 11-10: Test flames — 50 W horizontal and vertical flame test methods.)
British Recycled Plastic products can be vandalised, nothing is 100% vandal-proof, however, the material is extremely difficult to vandalise.
There are several reasons for this:
The plastic used in the furniture is chemically inert, making it incredibly hard for grafitti from paint or magic markers to adhere to as there is no “chemical key”. If a vandal sprays paint on a bench, for example, it can be wiped clean or jetwashed afterwards, depending on the severity, as it doesn’t penetrate the recycled plastic. Generally, our recycled plastic can be cleaned with cheap, own-brand kitchen cleaner if it has been vandalised by magic marker pen.
The recycled plastic furniture is also very heavy, making moving it a very unattractive proposition to the casual vandal. It won’t end up in the local canal, swimming with the supermarket trollies and traffic cones.
Our recycled plastic does not chip, split or splinter and it is almost impossible to cut with a knife. That being said, a vandal did manage to hack a little off the edge of a table with what appeared (on CCTV footage) to be a machete.
In short, our products do just as well in a challenging urban environment when being attacked by a vandal as they do in a challenging rural or coastal environment being attacked by Mother Nature.
To maintain recycled plastic products there’s not much to it really…
Give them a wipe if they get very dirty.
That’s about it.
There’s no need for chemical preservatives, treatment, painting or anything else.
British Recycled Plastic Products waterproof – Not at all.
They are all able to resist water indefinitely.
They are also salt resistant so they will survive in coastal environments without any notable degradation, regardless of the severity of the weather.
