Giving Retired Tent Vinyl a Second Life as Homes for Displaced Families
A tent top doesn’t stop being useful when it comes out of rental service. The vinyl is still strong and weather-resistant, and it can still protect a family from the elements. That’s the idea behind the MATRA Second Life Project, and Shelter Structures America is proud to support it.
The Manufacturers and Tent Renters Association runs the initiative in partnership with the nonprofit Every Shelter. Together, they recover used tent vinyl and repurpose it into durable shelter material for displaced families, giving it a new purpose instead of a place in a landfill.
“Our business is built on fabric that stands up to wind, rain and sun. When a tent top comes out of rental service, that strength does not disappear. The Second Life Project lets our industry put that material where it matters most: over the heads of families who have lost their homes. We are proud to stand with MATRA and Every Shelter and to encourage our customers and partners to do the same.”
Keith Krzeminski, Vice President, Shelter Structures America, and MATRA board member
Why it matters
Displacement is rarely a short-term emergency. According to MATRA, families in displacement settlements often remain there for eight to 15 years. They need materials they can build with, improve and rebuild over time, not just a temporary tent.
Every Shelter’s A-frame design answers that need. A family can build it in a single day, and the design was developed with the community so families can expand and adapt it as their lives change.
The impact of one container
A single shipping container goes a long way:
| Measure | One shipping container |
|---|---|
| Tent vinyl diverted from landfills | 150,000 square feet |
| Homes supported | 400 |
| Cost to ship | $10,000 |
| Cost to provide shelter material for one family | $25 |
How Shelter Structures America is helping
Reusability has long been part of how we think about structures. For the Second Life Project, we are:
- Contributing funds toward the cost of shipping containers
- Identifying retired tent vinyl across our distribution network for future recovery efforts
- Encouraging our rental customers and fellow MATRA members to donate vinyl and funds
- Sharing the project with clients across the U.S., Canada and Mexico
“Rental companies have the material. Every Shelter has the design, the process and the community partnerships. What is needed now is help funding the journey, and every $25 puts a family under a stronger roof.”
Keith Krzeminski
How to get involved
Tent rental companies, manufacturers and anyone in the event industry can support the project by donating, flagging used tent vinyl for recovery and spreading the word. Learn more on the Second Life Project page.
