Plastic straps

A strap is a flexible flat material, that is applied to an item to combine, hold, reinforce or fasten it. Straps have been used to build no glue/no screws disassemblable furniture, but it is also common to use them for seats and sofas.

Synthetic straps can be made of nylon, polypropylene or polyester. The strength of the straps depends on the width and thickness. Nylon and polyester are stronger than polypropylene. Nylon is the most heavy duty type of straps, although it gets stretched more easily when wet and can lose its colors after long exposure to sunlight.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
		High energy Because of the long production chain, straps have a higher embodied energy than glues and metal fasteners. With the energy required to produce a 100 g polyester strap you could produce as many as 45 stainless steel screws (1). Choose natural fibers to reduce embodied energy. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections Low Energy Animal glue Casein glue Dowels, biscuits and lamellos Soy glue Tie-wraps High footprint While with glues and fasteners you connect using just a few grams of material, straps are more material intensive. Synthetic straps however require less natural resources than cotton ones. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections Low footprint Animal glue Dowels, biscuits and lamellos Soy glue

	Non toxic No particles or emissions are released when you work with textiles. Low cost They have a similar price to natural fiber straps Quick Strapping is faster than drilling, screwing or gluing connections
	Space saving If strapped furniture can be disassembled, it can be more compact when transported, therefore saving space and fuel
	Non toxic Synthetic fibers straps are safe at home, unless they contain PVC or they are treated with brominated or halogenated fire retardants (1) Long lifespan Straps will go a long way. Nylon is the strongest plastic strap material, followed by polyester. Nylon, however, can decolor if exposed to sunlight.

	Easy reuse If strapped furniture can be disassembled, it becomes easier to reuse. The strap can also be reused if the furniture is disposed of.