Posted on 22nd March 2021
In the design world, Q1 of 2021 saw a continuation in material innovation, with designs released that aim to highlight plastic waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular disposable face masks and Personal Protective Equipment. Estimates suggest that around 75 per cent of PPE will end up in landfill, taking around 450 years to break down into problematic microplastics.
Italian designer Tobia Zambotti has used discarded single-use masks as the stuffing for a sofa, calling attention to the amount of plastic waste being generated by single use face masks. Meanwhile, South Korean designer Haneul Kim has collected thousands of used disposable face masks across his university campus, recycling them to create a stackable stool.
Are you upcycling PPE into innovative product designs? We would love to see your designs. Tag @rediscoveryctr in your photos on Instagram
