While plastic has many valuable uses, it’s no secret that the world has a plastic pollution problem

Joining the force and revolutionising the design industry, London-based designer Tom Robinson has joined forces with manufacturing firm The Good Plastic Company to create a flatpack chair made of recycled laptops and hardware.

The first release of a larger collection of upcycled, eco-friendly plastic furniture, the Evolve chair is made from crushed and granulated e-waste that is fused into five plastic panels that make up the chair.

Eliminating carbon emissions, the manufacturing process acts as an alternative to carbon-intense production of virgin plastics while allowing the finished material to resemble a natural looking wood, and thus give the chair its artisanal look.

recycled plastic can appear more natural, crafted  and synonymous with the interior landscapes of today

Considered to be industrial, machine-made and artificial, it was important to Robinson that Evolve’s design was presented in a way that people would actually want to have it in their homes, and showcase how “recycled plastic can appear more natural, crafted  and synonymous with the interior landscapes of today,” he said.

It’s an incredibly valuable material, but it’s become such an environmentally damaging material that it really needs to be considered more deeply.

Further shifting the narrative around plastic, founder of London Design Fair Jimmy Macdonald is challenging the understanding of and attitudes about plastic, suggesting that we’re in a decade of positive change in the context of how we use this once formidable material.

“The single-use topic is hot at the moment. It’s an incredibly valuable material, but it’s become such an environmentally damaging material that it really needs to be considered more deeply.”

“The attitude of ‘well, it’s a recycled material, so I don’t have to make anything special, I can just celebrate that it’s recycled’ is not enough,” said Jimmy.

The future looks bright as industry leaders are given the opportunity to be part of the solution to better process plastic waste. 

Often demonised among modern materials, plastic is now driving innovation, with upcycling and the creation of more permanent, aesthetically pleasing products emerging within the design sector.

The future looks bright as industry leaders are given the opportunity to be part of the solution to better process plastic waste. 

As we look to incorporate a more sustainable approach to our developments, we are often inspired by initiatives other businesses and individuals are introducing in a shift towards zero-waste. What unique practices are you implementing? We’d love to hear from you!