where climate action meets the future of design

Tag: recycling

David Jablonski

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David is an activist, designer and co-founder of the climate visualisation collective Klimadashboard.org. He believes that the crises of our time need radical paradigm shifts across politics, economics and the way we look at the world and our role in it.

Aimed at making these transformations tangible, David’s work tells stories about our future on screen and on stage, merging technology with arts and data with emotion. He studied in Graz, Berlin and London, is one of Austria’s youth delegates at COP28 and COP29 and is running his own design practice in Vienna.

“I see design as deeply connected to society, politics, and the environment. It shapes the way we live and must evolve to meet the urgent challenges of our time.“

WASTEWARE

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Every Year 90 million tons of food are thrown away in Europe. And, in the same period, disposable crockery accounts for a further 26 million tons of garbage. So why not connect these two topics and see what could be created in this scenario?

Wasteware, Experimental Tableware,  by Austrian designer Barbara Gollackner consists of various pieces of tableware, all made from food waste, produced in different techniques, ranging from moulding over pressing up to 3D printing.

Learn more about Barbara Gollackner design.


DON’T FEED ME PLASTIC

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Don’t Feed Me Plastic represents the series of educational toys aiming to develop an emotional connection between the children and their environment.

Made out of reused fabric its infill contains an element of surprise. Inside each kiwi bird are several plastic caps which serve as a conversation starter. Through a tactile game and this element of surprise, we can teach the child about the negative influence we have on our environment and try, through playing, to suggest what are possible solutions.

Learn more about Maja Repotocnik


Squeeze the orange

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Orange peels are a food waste residue abundant in the Mediterranean diet, and we can give them another life: many things are possible with what we consider “waste” today.

Squeeze the Orange is a research project on the reuse of orange peel to make biodegradable and compostable materials for the fashion industry.

Through the work and knowledge shared between makers and designers, they investigated orange waste to design a material that all fashion designers can use. The project was developed in collaboration with restaurants in the Poblenou neighbourhood in Barcelona. Its purpose is to manufacture a completely biodegradable or compostable waterproof bioplastic using dehydrated orange peel to produce clothing and accessories for the fashion industry.


matapalo

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matapalo, by Unlable Design Studio, is a brand from Algiers that markets biophilic pots and installations made of flexible and innovative composite fabrics that stand out for their design, lightness, durability and recyclability.

The product was presented during Underground BDW, a new collective and immersive exhibition during the Barcelona Design Week 2024.

UrbanGuard

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The vision was to create a product that combines functionality with style. The lattice ensures optimal air circulation, making it ideal for prolonged use.

The volumetric lattice, a three-dimensional structure made of interconnected cells, is carefully engineered using advanced materials and precision techniques. Each cell is designed to absorb and distribute
impact forces evenly, providing optimal protection. Rigorous testing, including simulated crash scenarios and stress analysis, ensures its effectiveness while maintaining a lightweight and comfortable design.

With the potential integration of smart technologies like LED lights and impact sensors, this helmet showcases how technology and design can create innovative solutions for urban challenges.


MOMENTS Sidetable

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MOMENTS Sidetable by studio re.d is dedicated to the recycling of leftover panels, such as cutouts from stoves and sinks, that are left over from the production of ceramic kitchen worktops. The design emphasizes the value of the remaining panels as a central element of the side table

In order to save work steps, the processing of the remaining panels is implemented into existing production processes. The ceramic plates are connected to sheet steel elements using screws, which means that the furniture can be easily dismantled at the end of its usage cycle and returned to the circular economy. 

AWARDS: 

BIG SEE Product Design Award 2024 

Nominated for the Green Product Design Award 2024

Reef Rocket

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ReefCycle has developed biologically-grown cement-like material that mimics the chemical structure of reefs, re-growing vital material in days that take millennia to form in nature. The production process combines plant-based enzymes with crushed waste, like culinary shells and glass, to grow a mineral glue that binds waste material together.

Reef Rocket is a bio-cement structure that mimics the naturally occurring oyster reefs that protect shorelines from flooding, filter seawater and promote biodiversity. Nature has the unique capacity to grow durable material without polluting its surrounding environment. Reefs grow to withstand extreme wave energy and corrosive water for hundreds of years.

Harnessing nature to repurpose discard into durable “cements” locally without burning fossil fuels, this process fosters a bio-circular and localised economy. Reef Rocket by ReefCycle provides a cheaper, cleaner and more durable alternative to industrial cement.

MOWO, move with wood

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MOWO, move with wood, uses wood in a completely new way, using it as an elastic, flexible material that allows movement when sitting. All products are made from molded plywood and do not require any metal or plastic – the wooden elements are connected solely by cords, which combine stability and flexibility.

MOWO is an Austrian brand owned by architect and designer Lisa Stolz. All products are manufactured by a Greek family business that has specialized in the production of molded plywood parts since 1991.

MOWO uses the FSC-certified veneers. The certificate that ensures that the wood products come from forests that are managed according to the strict standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These standards ensure that the wood is sourced from forests managed sustainably, respecting ecosystems, biodiversity, workers’ rights, communities, and economic sustainability. Follow MOWO, move with wood!

Bobby Kolade

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Kolade’s brand first collection is titled Return to Sender, and is made entirely out of waste textiles sourced from second-hand markets across Uganda. Each piece is redesigned and redistributed to the Global North, where the raw materials were originally bought and discarded.

Bobby Kolade is a fashion designer from Uganda who started his career in Berlin and Paris, cutting his teeth at major companies like Maison Margiela and Balenciaga. In 2018, he returned to his hometown of Kampala and was struck by the severe decline of the country’s textile industry. Today, he is the creative powerhouse behind BUZIGAHILL, an independent label that brings attention to this issue through art, clothing and activism.

As co-host of the podcast Vintage or Violence, Kolade further examines the true cost of the global fashion industry and the impact that waste colonialism has on local communities and ecosystems.

Matej Fegus

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Fergus’s approach emphasizes that design should go beyond aesthetics, creating meaningful value for society, employees, and the environment through innovative business models, new materials, and advanced technologies.

Matej Fegus is a Slovenian entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate of sustainable design and circular economy. As the director of Donar d.o.o., he has transformed the company into a globally recognized leader in sustainable manufacturing.

Fegus received numerous awards, including CEED Global Entrepreneur of the Year 2014, Red Dot Award 2016, and Green Product Award 2018. His work with the Nico Less chair by Primoz Jeza earned the title Design of the Year 2017. In addition to Donar, he co-founded and co-owns several businesses focused on planning, communication, and sales. He was a co-organizer of the 1st conference on Sustainable Design for Transition to Circular Economy.

PIAO CHAIR

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The PIAO CHAIR is made from multiple layers of fibrous paper, laminated together by hand to create a lightweight yet remarkably strong structure. The edges of the paper are left raw and uneven, highlighting the material’s natural origins and the craftsmanship involved in the chair’s production.

The chair’s form evokes the silhouette of Ming-dynasty horseshoe chairs—an iconic element of Chinese furniture history. The choice of material is inspired by the traditional paper umbrella-making techniques of the Yuhang District in Hangzhou, where PINWU Design Studio is located.

PINWU Design Studio was founded by Zhang Lei, Christoph John, and Jovana Zhang after they met at the Milan Salone del Mobile furniture fair in 2010. Their work often explores how fragile or ephemeral materials like paper can be transformed through skill and creativity into durable objects.

BIOCARPET

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The subject of this artistic creation is an experimental textile surface made from wool waste. By employing woolen fibers and utilizing the felting technique, Biocarpet stands out as a remarkable example of how art and sustainability can intertwine.

The “Biocarpet – Apple Murex Egg Casing” is a groundbreaking artwork that merges the wonders of the ocean with the comfort of home textiles. This unique piece is designed to unveil the hidden mysteries of sea worlds and their natural, often invisible structures through a captivating textile sculpture-carpet.

Our urban environments are dominated by synthetic materials that can feel harsh and unwelcoming. Therefore, the design focuses on integrating tactile and biomimetic structures into the carpet, which highlights key themes such as recycling, biodiversity, and the use of natural materials.

BIODEGRAPAK

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Recycling is a multi-step process, involving transportation, sorting, processing, and making materials into new goods. It is difficult to assess its overall energy usage.

Economy is not exactly thriving from all its recycling efforts — because it becomes more expensive than ever to process all of our leftover junk. Biodegrapak is a package designed to be ecological on every level. Consisted of cleared paper pulp, flour and starch and biological seeds. After using the eggs, instead of recycling or throwing it away, the user waters it or plants it so the seeds grow into green plants. The main idea and goal is to create a truly environmentally friendly product.

See George Bosnas portfolio.

Jelena Matic

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Her passion for sustainable design has not only influenced her students’ lives but has also inspired new generations of designs to embed environmental concepts and practices.

Professor Jelena Matic is a prominent figure in Serbia, known for advancing sustainability and circular design education. Her work at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, and involvement in the “Young Balkan Designers” initiative has inspired students and new generations to integrate environmental concepts into their designs.

From 2005 to 2015, Matic led award-winning projects, earning awards, including prestigious ones like the Awards of the Salon of Arts, Golden Key of the Furniture Fair in Belgrade, and awards from the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade and Ulupuds. Her collaboration with the furniture company Simpo in 2010 resulted in four student-designed pieces entering production, highlighting her influence in both education and industry.