"Why do we say that recycled plastic is better from a durability AND maintenance perspective? It might be true that the plastic version will last a little longer sans maintenance, but once it's broken, that's it - to the landfill. As designers, we should be supportive of long-term furniture and things that are designed to be maintained. The wood versions you see of these have been stripped and repainted, replacement parts installed, over and over for 30+ years. The plastic ones turn to garbage in UV light (where these chairs are designed to live) in a few years.  Also, though it is better to give this plastic a couple of years stop on it's way to the landfill, we should be more honest in calling these plastics as down-cycled, not recycled.  Now, if it is a price thing that makes people buy plastic over wood, that's a separate issue..."