Plastics, the role of design in enabling more intelligent use of these materials

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

ecoBirdy blue chair made out of ecothylene, material based on recycled plastic developed by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. The recovered plastic is developed starting with a process that separates waste materials of similar colours, then used to produce children's furniture, all pleasantly coloured and with an opalescent finish © Arne Jennard/ecoBirdy

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

Ecothylene is produced by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. It’s more than just a technique for the selection, cleaning and recycling of plastic waste: the process on which it’s based separates old plastic toys by colour, thus leading to a higher aesthetic potential for upcycled products. Tables, chairs and containers, all pleasantly coloured and with an opalescent finish. Detail © ecoBirdy

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

ecoBirdy pink chair made out of ecothylene, material based on recycled plastic developed by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. The recovered plastic is developed starting with a process that separates waste materials of similar colours, then used to produce children's furniture, all pleasantly coloured and with an opalescent finish © Arne Jennard/ecoBirdy

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

ecoBirdy white chair made out of ecothylene, material based on recycled plastic developed by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. The recovered plastic is developed starting with a process that separates waste materials of similar colours, then used to produce children's furniture, all pleasantly coloured and with an opalescent finish © Arne Jennard/ecoBirdy

3D printer made by Italian startup Direct 3D

New technology developed by Italian startup Direct3D allows for 3D printing mixed recycled plastic shavings © Direct3D

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

Ecothylene is produced by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. It’s more than just a technique for the selection, cleaning and recycling of plastic waste: the process on which it’s based separates old plastic toys by colour, thus leading to a higher aesthetic potential for upcycled products. The separation process involves a sheltered workshop where other materials are removed from the collected plastic toys. In a professional recycling centre the plastic is then cleaned accurately to take away all contamination and separated by colour © ecoBirdy

Recycled plastic objects by ecoBirdy

Ecothylene is produced by ecoBirdy, founded by Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel. It’s more than just a technique for the selection, cleaning and recycling of plastic waste: the process on which it’s based separates old plastic toys by colour, thus leading to a higher aesthetic potential for upcycled products. ecoBirdy presented its range of children's furniture made out of ecothylene during the Milan Design Week 2018. Tables, chairs and containers, all pleasantly coloured and with an opalescent finish © Stefania M. D'Alessandro/Getty Images

Nuatan, a new biodegradable and renewable bioplastic

CP! Eyewear and Crafting Plastics! studio's collections are made from Nuatan, a new generation biodegradable plastic based on 100% renewable raw materials © Crafting Plastics!

Nuatan, a new biodegradable and renewable bioplastic

Nuatan is a new biodegradable plastic based on renewable raw materials, born from the collaboration between European design studio Crafting Plastics! and the Slovak University of Technology © Crafting Plastics!

Nuatan, a new biodegradable and renewable bioplastic

Nuatan factory: Nuatan is a new biodegradable plastic based on renewable raw materials, born from the collaboration between European design studio Crafting Plastics! and the Slovak University of Technology © Lousy Auber/Crafting Plastics!

Nuatan, a new biodegradable and renewable bioplastic

CP! Eyewear and Crafting Plastics! studio's collections are made from Nuatan, a new generation biodegradable plastic based on 100% renewable raw materials © Crafting Plastics!

Plasticiet, construction materials in recycled plastic

Footwear collection by the startup Malai made using Nuatan and Malai, name also given to the flexible and durable bio-based material perfected in Europe and produced in India, comparable to leather in its performance and aesthetically similar to paper © Crafting Plastics!

Smile Plastics, design materials in recycled plastic

Plasticiet is a plastic construction material that differs in appearance depending on the waste materials it's made from (rigid or soft plastics), reminiscent of stone composites such as terrazzo or reconstituted marble. It's made and sold online by the homonymous studio founded by Rotterdam-based Dutch designers Marten van Middelkoop and Joost Dingemans © Plasticiet

Smile Plastics, design materials in recycled plastic

A sample from the Smile Plastics collection by Studio Smile designers Adam Fairweather and Rosalie McMillan. The studio offers a small selection of lifestyle products made from recycled plastics © Smile Plastics

Smile Plastics, design materials in recycled plastic

A sample from the Smile Plastics collection by Studio Smile designers Adam Fairweather and Rosalie McMillan. The studio offers a small selection of lifestyle products made from recycled plastics © Smile Plastics