Tag Archives: recycled

Tray210 Proves Recycled Plastic Doesn’t Have to Look Grey and Boring

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Recycled plastic products often fall into two camps: grey utilitarian bins or loud, speckled experiments that feel more like proof of concept than something you want on your desk. Tray210 recycled, a collaboration between Korean studio intenxiv and manufacturer INTOPS under the rmrp brand, takes a different approach, using recycled plastics and waste additives to create a tray that feels like a considered object first and an eco story second, treating material diversity as part of the design language.

Tray210 recycled is a circular tray with three compartments, an evolution of the original Tray210 form. It grew out of INTOPS’ grecipe eco-material platform and hida’s CMF proposals, which is a long way of saying it is the result of a tight loop between material science and industrial design. The goal was to pursue material diversity and break away from the cheap recycled stereotype, making something that belongs in sight rather than hidden under a desk.

Designer: Intenxiv x INTOPS

The form is intuitive, a 210 mm circle with a raised, ribbed bar running across the middle and two shallow wells on either side. The central groove is sized for pens, pencils, or chopsticks, and the ribs keep cylindrical objects from rolling away. The side compartments are open and shallow, perfect for earbuds, clips, rings, or keys. It is the kind of layout you understand at a glance without needing instructions or labels; just place your pen where the grooves are.

The material story is where Tray210 recycled gets interesting. Multiple recycled blends reflect their sources: Clam and Wood use 80 percent recycled PP with shell and wood waste, Charcoal adds 15 percent charcoal to 80 percent recycled PP, and Stone uses 10–50 percent recycled ABS. Transparent and Marble variants use recycled PC or PCABS with ceramic particles or marble-like pigment. Each colorway is visually tied to its waste stream, making the origin legible and intentional.

The aim is to create a design closer to the lifestyle rmrp pursues, breaking away from the impression recycled plastic generally gives. The Clam and Wood versions read as soft, muted pastels with fine speckling, Charcoal feels like a deep, almost architectural grey, and Stone and Transparent lean into translucency and particulate. Instead of hiding the recycled content, the CMF work uses it as texture and character, closer to terrazzo or stoneware than to injection-molded scrap that just happens to be grey.

The combination of clear zoning and tactile surfaces makes Tray210 recycled feel at home on a desk, entryway shelf, or bedside table. The central groove keeps your favorite pen or stylus always in the same place, while the side wells catch whatever tends to float around, from SD cards to jewelry. The different material stories let you pick a version that matches how you want the space to feel: calm, earthy, industrial, or a bit more playful.

A simple tray can carry a lot of design thinking, from intuitive ergonomics to material storytelling and responsible sourcing. Tray210 recycled is not trying to save the world on its own, but it does show how recycled plastic can be turned into something you actually want to touch and keep in sight. For people who care about both what an object does and what it is made from, that is a quiet but meaningful upgrade over another anonymous catch-all that eventually ends up in a drawer.

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These Lamps Made From Trash That Look Better Than Designer Lighting

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There’s something deeply satisfying about watching trash transform into treasure, especially when the result is as stunning as Luminous Re-weave. Created by designers Ling Sha and Yucheng Tang, this lighting system takes the textiles we typically toss without a second thought (think old T-shirts, worn denim, even plastic bags) and reimagines them as soft, glowing sculptures that wouldn’t look out of place in a gallery or a design-forward living room.

At first glance, these lamps appear almost impossibly delicate. Strips of fabric hang like fringes around drum-shaped modules, creating a textured exterior that filters light into something warm and inviting. But look closer and you’ll notice the clever engineering at play. Each module starts with a metal frame fitted with a 3D printed cover, which becomes the base for hand-weaving reclaimed fabrics. The result is a lighting element that feels both handcrafted and high-tech, a sweet spot that’s increasingly rare in contemporary design.

Designers: Ling Sha and Yucheng Tang

What makes Luminous Re-weave particularly interesting is its modular nature. These aren’t your standard one-size-fits-all lamps. Each cylindrical unit can stand alone as a compact light source or stack with others to create sculptural columns of varying heights. You could start with a single module on your desk and gradually build upward into a floor lamp, or arrange several short ones across a shelf for ambient lighting. The system is entirely tool-free, which means reconfiguring your setup is as simple as stacking blocks (only infinitely more stylish).

The real genius lies in the swappable textile skins. We live in a world where we’re constantly encouraged to buy new things. So having a lamp that evolves with you is refreshingly practical. Don’t like the blue denim vibe anymore? Unwrap it and try the earthy brown tones instead. Want to match a new color scheme? Swap out the textiles. This approach not only extends the lifespan of the product but also gives users creative control over their environment. It’s the kind of thoughtful design that acknowledges people change, tastes evolve, and objects should be able to keep up.

Beyond aesthetics, there’s a compelling sustainability angle here. The fashion and textile industries are notorious waste producers, with millions of tons of fabric ending up in landfills annually. By intercepting these materials before they become trash and giving them a second life as functional art, Ling Sha and Yucheng Tang are participating in what’s known as circular design, where materials loop back into use rather than following a linear path to disposal. It’s a small gesture on the individual scale but represents a mindset shift that could influence how we think about materials more broadly.

The marriage of hand-weaving and digital fabrication in Luminous Re-weave also speaks to a larger trend in contemporary design. We’re moving past the false dichotomy of craft versus technology, recognizing instead that these approaches can complement each other beautifully. The 3D printed components provide structure and consistency, while the hand-wrapped textiles introduce variation and human touch. No two modules will look exactly alike because the reclaimed fabrics bring their own histories, wear patterns, and imperfections to the table.

Looking at the images of these lamps glowing in soft beiges, rich reds, deep blues, and faded denims, it’s easy to imagine them fitting into various contexts. They could anchor a minimalist space with their sculptural presence or blend into a maximalist room as one interesting element among many. They speak to both the person who obsesses over sustainable practices and the one who simply appreciates well-executed design.

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Floating solar still made from old tires can purify 15.5 cups of water every day

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Even though 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, there is still a water shortage in our planet because only a small percentage of that is safe to drink. It is also pretty expensive to purify water so not everyone can afford to drink safe water, not to mention all the pollution that makes it even more dangerous. There are several research projects out there to come up with eco-friendly ways to do this but this one from Dalhousie University in Canada is probably the cheapest.

Designer: Matthew J. Margeson, Mark Atwood, Jaser L. de Larrea, Joseph Weatherby, Heather
Daurie, Katlyn Near, Graham A. Gagnon, Mita Dasog (Dalhousie University)

Image courtesy of viktelminova

This floating solar still from researchers at the Canadian university is able to produce 15.5 cups of fresh water per day, which is 1.5 times the amount that a person needs to consume every day. It is able to do this by soaking up water from below it and then use the heat from solar radiation to evaporate the purified water. It condenses on a dome on top of the still and then the water is collected.

While there are other projects similar to this, what makes it different is that it’s made from old tires that are processed through pyrolysis. The carbon-rich char that is produced from here is mixed into plasmonic titanium carbides. This means that you just have to spend 0.86 cents per liter to purify the water, which is pretty cheap compared to other devices that use precious metals and are therefore more expensive.

The solar still can even generate a small amount of electricity because of the thermoelectric effect. This can be enough energy for water quality sensors although it may be useless for other things since it’s just a small amount. If this becomes successful then lower income communities can benefit from this and get the clean water that they need for every day living.

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Best Glass Cup Made with Recycled Glass for a Delightful Drink Every Time

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Drinking, whether it’s water, coffee, or soda, is such an essential part of human life that we usually do it on autopilot. That’s why we also take for granted the vessel we’re drinking from, not realizing how much it can affect not only the taste but also the entire experience. Materials can subtly change the flavor of the drink or even create toxins, while uninspiring designs can affect our moods without us even realizing why we feel so sour or down. More importantly, we rarely take into account how our cups and glasses can affect the health of the planet in the long run. That’s definitely a lot to take in for a single cup, but this simple yet striking glassware makes it all so simple, providing a design that’s not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside, especially for the world we live in.

Designer: HMM (Human Made Method) Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $35

The Problem: Bland, Harmful Drinkware

Glasses, mugs, and cups are so ubiquitous that we barely give them a second look whenever we drink. But like the mess that starts to pile up on our desks or in our rooms, they actually have an effect on our minds and our moods. Drinking from a plain, uninspiring, and rough cup is a completely different experience from using a smooth, beautiful, and luxurious vessel. The latter makes every sip feel special as if enjoying fine wine even when you’re simply drinking water. It uplifts the spirit as much as it nourishes the body.

And there’s the fact that not all drinkware is made equal, even those made from metal and glass. They can have harmful chemicals mixed in that interact with the liquid inside, changing their flavors and sometimes even causing harm to our health. They also slowly kill the planet, especially the numerous plastic drinkware that fill the market and our cupboards. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel great not only because you’re drinking from a beautiful glass cup but also because you know you’re doing your small part to protect the planet? That’s the blissful drinking experience that this exquisite glass cup is offering, made from recycled glass that, in turn, is also completely recyclable.

Why is this the Best Glass Cup

This sustainable glass cup has a beauty that goes beyond just appearances. It uses glass that’s collected and recycled by Taiwan’s largest glass recycling center and the product is a material that’s also 100% recyclable glass. This means that at the end of its life, this beautiful glass cup can be properly disposed of or even recycled for some other use, creating a circular economy that keeps on giving without harming the planet in the process.

Admittedly, that invisible detail might be lost on some people, especially when they’re distracted by the cup’s beauty. Rather than just a straightforward cylindrical body, the glass’s faceted shape has 12 angles that stand for the 12 hours on a clock’s face, symbolizing the cycle of the day and of life. And instead of being clear and transparent, glass-dyeing techniques add a visual flavor to the cup whenever light passes through it and the beverage inside. Each glass is handmade by seasoned craftsmen, which sometimes results in tiny bubbles or traces on the surface of the glass. Rather than being imperfections, these give each cup a unique character and story, adding to the vessel’s charm.

Who this Glass Cup is For

With such a stylish and elegant glass, anyone can experience a more meaningful drink, regardless of their preferred beverage. With a heat-proof handle, holding a cup of your favorite coffee blend is no problem. And with its smooth circular inner surface, cleaning after a drink of wine is no sweat at all. A delight to the eyes and a treat for your lips, this Sustainable Glass Cup turns every sip into a deeper, multi-sensory experience, allowing you to savor not only the unadulterated flavors of your favored beverages but also the gratifying thoughts of supporting a circular economy that will create a brighter and greener tomorrow.

Click Here to Buy Now: $35

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DIY foldable desk organizer is made from recycled Campus notebook paper

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As a self-confessed hoarder and maximalist, my desk is anything but neat. I collect a lot of stationery and supplies (sometimes more than I need) and so I have a lot of things lying around. There are of course some desk organizers there but the small items can sometimes be just left scattered all over. This new DIY stationery items can help with that problem.

Designers: Erlend Storsul Opdahl/Milla Eveliina Niskakoski for Kokuyo

RAE is a desktop organizer that is made from recycled paper from scraps of Campus notebooks from Kokuyo’s manufacturing factories. Since the strength and abrasion resistance is affected if you fully use the recycled fibers as virgin materials, they decided to make that just 50% of the recycled paper.

What makes this even more interesting is that the user will be the one to “assemble” the organizer by folding the paper, origami-style. There are two sizes of the paper: the S size (W155 x D70 x H30mm) which is a smaller, squarish kind of organizer and the L size (W250 x D70 x H30mm), a more elongated version. You can place various stationery stuff on it, including pens, paper clips, washi tapes, and other small items you may have lying around.

The package, which contains two pieces, comes with an assembly practice sheet but there’s also a video on YouTube if you need more visual instructions. It comes in beige and khaki colors, keeping with the minimalist feel. It would be cute to have some of these paper organizers on my table, if I can actually follow the instructions.

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Building tiles made from oyster shells, fish bones can be used for coastal structures

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The world has a lot of waste that is discarded in landfills or worse, in natural environments that cause damage to the ecosystem. Fortunately, there are a lot of people who are exploring how to turn these seemingly useless trash into materials for products so that they can be recycled. One of the recent winners of the Red Dot Award turned her focus on oyster shells and fish bones.

Designer: Yingfei Zhuo

EcoShell is a sustainable building material that is made from abundant marine waste and is also visually pleasing. The durable exterior tiles are made from powdered oyster shells with binders extracted from fish bones serving as the adhesives, which makes it biodegradable too. The blend of these two materials make sure that the tiles are durable and can last for a long time.

Since oyster shells are salt corrosion resistant, this material can be used in coastal areas since they can last longer compared to other building materials. The tiles look like concrete but are actually lighter than that. It also has a user-friendly hanging system so that you can easily install it without using things like nails. The texture and color can also be customized to match the structure where it will be used.

This is an interesting way to use these usually discarded materials by the seafood industry. Millions of tons of the shells in particular are thrown away which actually pose risks to the environment especially if they are untreated in landfills or oceans. The fact that you can use them in buildings near oceans makes it part of the sustainable cycle.

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Nike’s Sustainable Dumbbells Turn Footwear Waste into Fitness Gear

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In an age where sustainability meets everything, why not fitness? Nike has taken a bold step with the introduction of their Nike Grind Dumbbells, a product that marries functionality with an eco-conscious mindset. These dumbbells are not just a tool for training but a statement in Nike’s ongoing commitment to reduce waste and create a better future for both athletes and the planet.

Designer: Nike

At the heart of this innovation is Nike Grind Rubber, a material made from the waste generated during the footwear manufacturing process. Each Nike Grind Dumbbell contains at least 20% of this recycled rubber by volume, making it a sustainable choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining a rigorous fitness routine. The incorporation of Nike Grind Rubber gives these dumbbells a unique texture—durable and rubbery, built to withstand the toughest of workouts while maintaining comfort and grip. It’s sort of like the KitKat business model. Just like how damaged KitKats get reused as the wafer inner filling for KitKats, the waste from Nike’s footwear business gets used as raw material for its dumbbells.

Nike has paid special attention to the design of the dumbbells, ensuring they are not only functional but also comfortable to use. The handles are ergonomically shaped, with their diameter increasing as the weight goes up, providing a secure and tailored grip no matter the load. For lighter weights, starting at 2.5 lbs and going up to 25 lbs in 2.5-lb increments, the thinner handles offer precision and control. As the weights increase to 50 lbs in 5-lb increments, the handles thicken to match the increased demand for strength and stability, ensuring a comfortable grip for every user.

The medium-knurled handle provides just the right balance of friction and control, making these dumbbells ideal for a wide variety of exercises. Whether you’re pushing through an intense HIIT workout or performing slow, controlled movements, the grip offers confidence and security, allowing you to focus fully on your training.

One of the standout features of the Nike Grind Dumbbells is their versatility. Dumbbells are arguably one of the most essential pieces of equipment in any gym, and Nike’s offering is no exception. These weights support countless workout movements, from compound lifts like squats and lunges to isolation exercises like bicep curls and tricep extensions. The hexagonal rubber construction prevents rolling, making them stable and safe to use on various surfaces, while also protecting floors from damage.

In true Nike fashion, the Nike Grind Dumbbells come with a design flair that sets them apart from other gym equipment. Due to the nature of the recycled material, each set features a unique color blend depending on the footwear colorways Nike produces during any given season. While the base color remains a stylish grey, the Nike Grind particles within the dumbbell vary, making each pair truly one-of-a-kind. This limited-edition aspect of the dumbbells adds a sense of exclusivity for those looking to own a unique piece of Nike’s sustainable innovation.

The Nike Grind Dumbbells are sold in pairs, with pricing ranging from $30 for the 2.5-lb set to $210 for the 50-lb set. Given the combination of quality, durability, and sustainable design, these dumbbells offer excellent value for those serious about their fitness and environmental impact.

Nike’s iconic “Just Do It” slogan has always been about pushing boundaries, whether in sports or in life. With the Nike Grind Dumbbells, that ethos extends to sustainability, offering a product that not only supports your physical training but also contributes to reducing waste. This dumbbell is a perfect fit for athletes who want to make a difference both in their workouts and in the world.

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Nike Grind Dumbbells use recycled rubber from footwear byproduct

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Of the many pieces of clothing we buy and use, shoes are probably the ones designed to last the longest. Because of that, footwear is usually made using materials that are durable and long-lasting but are also unfortunately often not environment-friendly. Rubber, particularly synthetic rubber, is one of the biggest culprits, not just in terms of post-consumer waste but even material waste during the manufacturing process. As one of the biggest footwear makers, Nike is thankfully taking a responsible stance, giving those rubber byproducts and excess materials a new purpose.

Designer: Nike

Although natural rubber is sourced from plants, it’s not that easy to replenish to meet the high demand for the material. Just like plastic, synthetic rubber is easy to manufacture but also harmful the environment due to their chemical content. Rubber from discarded shoes is one thing, but even the bits and pieces of cutoffs and scraps produced when making them also pose a threat to the environment.

Considering its lion’s share of the sports shoes market, Nike developed the Grind material that recycles manufacturing byproducts like rubber, foam, and even textiles to create a material that can be applied to products other than shoes. In this case, the Nike Grind Dumbbells are made with at least 20% Nike Grind material to offer an alternative fitness tool for environment-conscious consumers.

In addition to its sustainable value, the recycled material also gives the dumbbells a unique aesthetic. The hexagonal weights themselves have a light gray hue sprinkled with colorful specs that create a terrazzo-like appearance. Each dumbbell is, thus, totally unique, and the mixture of colors will vary from season to season, depending on the styles of footwear that Nike launches.

The gray motif of the weights perfectly complements the chrome-plated knurled handles. The handle diameter varies depending on the weight, increasing as the load gets heavier to provide a more ergonomic grip. Available in weights ranging from 2.5 lbs to 50 lbs, the Nike Grind Dumbbell offers people a fitness tool that not only takes care of their health but also the environment.

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This Japanese Kintsugi Art Notebook Is Your Journaling Partner to Help You Realize Ikigai

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Paper notebooks are in again, though some would argue they never really went out of fashion. Even with the inherent limitations of the medium, there is just an unbridled joy in putting pen or pencil to paper that has not yet been sufficiently replicated by the most advanced technologies and designs. In a way, notebooks have also become a reflection of the owner’s own self, while also acting as a gateway to their own inner world, their thoughts, their dreams, and maybe even their own self-image. Some people like their notebooks and their covers plain, while others opt for designs that display their interests and loyalties. Still, others treat their notebook covers like a blank canvas ready to tell their life story through stickers and art. This rather distinctive Japanese-inspired notebook tries to tell a different story, one that aims to inspire the owner to not only rise from the ashes but also embrace their own imperfections.

Designer: Sutta Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $29

Ceramic pots have great value not just because of their intricate, often hand-made designs but also because of their fragility. A single drop or hard bump is enough to break a beautiful vase, and most people simply throw these away, even if there’s just a crack. The Japanese, however, aren’t ones to dispose of what can still be repaired, and so the famed kintsugi, the traditional art of repairing pottery, was born. In a nutshell, this art uses golden lacquer to patch up and cover cracks, resulting in a piece of pottery that is even more beautiful because of its obvious flaws.

Over time, kintsugi became a symbol of embracing imperfections and self-healing, and those are the sentiments that this golden healing notebook attempts to convey. Using an equally traditional screen-printing method, wriggling lines of gold are painted on the notebook’s plain black cover, mimicking the cracks covered up by lacquer in a kintsugi masterpiece. And as with cracks, there is no uniformity or pattern to the branching lines, giving it a sense of randomness that you would find in nature itself. It’s a striking visual, with the gold contrasting with the black, that evokes both awe and wonder, subtly leading the mind to deeper thoughts.

The notebook’s theme of recovery and revival goes deeper than the cover. The paper used inside is bagasse which is made from the residue produced during sugarcane extraction. Instead of creating new paper from virgin pulp, it reuses what has been discarded, trying to make whole what was broken. In its own small way, it helps heal the planet’s cracking health, patching it up in small beautiful pieces rather than in one grandiose but ineffective sweep.

The kintsugi notebook embodies not only a traditional Japanese practice but the very highlights of Japanese culture itself. It is the perfect example of Japanese minimalist design, the frugality and efficiency of its people, as well as the profound thinking they can evoke from just a few simple symbols and materials. Whether you’re writing down your most secret thoughts, planning out your day ahead, or simply scribbling ideas and dreams, the notebook’s beautiful recycled paper invites you to let your pen roam free on the page, while the seemingly cracked cover exhorts you to embrace even the flaws that could, someday, lead to a beautiful design.

Click Here to Buy Now: $29

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Mosaic-like stools are made from the soles of discarded rubber shoes

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The fashion industry is known for its striking designs, lavish materials, and sometimes mind-blowing forms, but it also has a dirty little secret when it comes to sustainability. Many of those materials, processes, and even ingredients have a tendency to harm the environment, especially mass-produced pieces of clothing, accessories, and footwear. Even something that sounds so innocent like the rubber soles of shoes can have a long-term negative impact on the planet’s health, especially when they’re thrown away without much thought. Although it’s not enough to make this discarded material disappear, these distinctive artistic stools help reduce their numbers while providing furniture that makes an impact in more ways than one.

Designer: BENTU Design

According to figures, 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced each year, and nearly all of those end up in landfills sooner or later. Footwear is usually made with half a dozen synthetic materials, with outsoles using plenty of rubber that takes more than a hundred years to decompose. Burning them, on the other hand, releases toxic gases, which is usually what happens in garbage disposal sites. Even though the process still uses water and energy, recycling these materials is still a significantly better way to deal with all the waste.

WU is a line of stools that does exactly that, giving new life to shoe soles that result in an even more interesting design. 90% of each stool’s raw materials are made from recycled rubber shoe materials, about 15kg of material that is equivalent to 60 rubber soles. It’s a small number compared to the amount of shoes being thrown away, but even just 10 of these stools mean 600 shoes are kept away from landfills.

The resulting design is quite intriguing as well. The raw materials are classified according to color to have a more uniform appearance, but the uniqueness still comes out in tiny bits of colors and microtextures. If some recycled plastics create a terrazzo effect, the recycled rubber soles result in finer and smaller pieces that have a grainy appearance as if painted with oils or mixed in with concrete.

The shape of the WU stool is also unusual, with a hexagon seat and a three-pointed base. This makes it easy to combine the stools into a larger form like a bench, though the connection will be superficial and perhaps a bit unstable. When placed together, these stools paint a rather eye-catching picture, almost literally, as if somebody took reality and applied a mosaic filter on it. Either way, no one will be the wiser that these were probably made from the pair of shoes they threw away years ago.

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