Est. 1990
Heritage & History
Doug Rassi co-founded POLYWOOD in 1990 out of a garage in Syracuse, Indiana, at a moment when government-mandated recycling programs were generating far more post-consumer plastic than existing markets could absorb. Rassi saw that high-density polyethylene — the sturdy resin used in milk jugs and detergent bottles — had the structural properties needed to replace wood in outdoor furniture. The company's first product was an all-weather Adirondack chair that remains central to the catalog today.
Over three decades, POLYWOOD grew from that garage into a vertically integrated manufacturer with facilities spanning more than two million square feet across two states. In 2018 the company opened a second facility in Roxboro, North Carolina, and in 2020 announced a $42.8 million expansion of its Syracuse campus. In March 2024 an investor group led by Arsenal Capital Partners and BayPine LP acquired the company, with Rassi's founding philosophy of domestic manufacturing and environmental stewardship carried forward.
Made in Syracuse, Indiana
POLYWOOD's Syracuse campus is where the company's proprietary lumber is born. Truckloads of recovered plastic arrive daily — the company processes roughly 400,000 milk jugs per day — and are fed into on-site recycling lines that clean, shred, and melt the HDPE into pellets. Those pellets are then extruded through custom dies into planks, slats, and structural members that are machined and assembled into finished furniture. The entire process, from raw recycled resin to packaged chair, happens under one roof.
Across both its Indiana and North Carolina facilities, POLYWOOD employs approximately 1,650 workers. The company's near-zero-waste production model captures 99 percent of its manufacturing scrap and routes it back into the process. Every piece is backed by a 20-year structural warranty — a claim made possible by that level of manufacturing control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is POLYWOOD made in the USA?
Yes. POLYWOOD manufactures 19 verified products in Syracuse, IN; Roxboro, NC. POLYWOOD pioneered recycled plastic outdoor furniture in 1990 in Syracuse, Indiana, and remains the leading American manufacturer of weather-resistant outdoor furniture made from reclaimed high-density polyethylene.
Where is POLYWOOD manufactured?
POLYWOOD is headquartered in Syracuse, IN. Manufacturing takes place in Syracuse, IN; Roxboro, NC.
What POLYWOOD products can I buy?
We carry 19 verified POLYWOOD products across Garden & Patio. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was POLYWOOD founded?
POLYWOOD was founded in 1990. POLYWOOD pioneered recycled plastic outdoor furniture in 1990 in Syracuse, Indiana, and remains the leading American manufacturer of weather-resistant outdoor furniture made from reclaimed high-density polyethylene.