Learning About the Amish and the Diverse World We Live In

Last week, I spent some time in Chicago, IL visiting our customers and partners. I met with Tangent Technologies, a manufacturer of recycled plastic lumber and engineered HDPE (high-density polyethylene) building materials. 

I enjoyed my time in Montgomery, IL and it was great to see the manufacturing operations firsthand. I spent time with John Zei and Eduardo Lasarte Zapata. As they were giving a tour of their facility, I also got to see the products that are being made by Tangent, sold through Costco, Walmart and other big box retailers.

During our conversation, John Zei mentioned that their materials are also purchased by Amish people and sold in Amish furniture stores. I was blinking a bit. Eduardo asked me if I knew about the Amish and I said no. Then he explained that the Amish are communities primarily located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and other parts of the United States who live a traditional, simple lifestyle centered around their Christian faith. They’re known for their exceptional craftsmanship, particularly in furniture making and woodworking. What struck me most was that they carefully evaluate new materials and tools based on whether these additions will strengthen their community values and quality of workmanship, rather than simply rejecting everything modern outright.

Eduardo explained that Tangent’s recycled HDPE lumber has become popular among Amish craftspeople because it offers durability and weather resistance for outdoor furniture and structures, while still being workable with their traditional tools and methods. The material doesn’t rot, splinter, or require the chemical treatments that traditional lumber often needs, making it both practical and aligned with their values of sustainability and quality.

I was fascinated by the Amish and dug more. It was very interesting to learn about them. The communities have maintained their distinct way of life for over 300 years, since their arrival in America in the early 1700s. They speak Pennsylvania Dutch (a German dialect) at home, wear plain clothing, travel by horse and buggy, and make decisions collectively as a community. 

Yet, they’re not frozen in time—they’re thoughtful about how they engage with the modern world, adapting in ways that preserve their core values while allowing their communities and businesses to thrive. It is also interesting how they have preserved their culture over a period of time, resisting the homogenizing forces that have swept through so much of modern society.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash 

This reminded me yet again that the world is not just about AI, Tech, Computers. There is a lot more to it. It is diverse and we need to embrace this diversity. Standing in that manufacturing facility in Montgomery, watching recycled plastic being transformed into building materials that would eventually end up in both big box retailers and small Amish furniture workshops, I was struck by the beautiful intersection of innovation and tradition. Here was cutting-edge sustainable manufacturing serving both the mainstream consumer market and communities living much as they did centuries ago.

Thanks John, thanks Eduardo. I cherish my time spent at Tangent and the unexpected lessons about the Amish Community.

Thank you.

Karthik Chidambaram.