Plastic-free Life from Zero

CONC Material Letter

The final destination for material concerns, CONC Library. We think together about the thousands of material challenges designers face and share the answers and processes.

“I mostly take on popup projects, where I install and dismantle in about a month. I wish there were more options for recycled materials that could be used in such cases.”

"Recycled plastic is softer than I expected, and it’s a bit difficult to work with. There are a lot of limitations in its use."

Baking Plastic to Fit Your Taste

It’s often said that for every advantage, there’s a disadvantage. And interestingly, in most cases, when you flip an advantage, it turns into a disadvantage. Take plastic for example. The advantage of being "lightweight, flexible, and easy to process, and reusable when heated" is linked to the disadvantage of "easily bending and difficult to cut." Thanks to its flexibility, plastic is easy to melt and reuse, but once it solidifies into a sheet, its flexibility causes it to easily bend, and the expansion and contraction are significant. In other words, it’s not ideal for use in spaces or furniture.

Plastic usually goes through a process of being finely shredded before being recycled into materials. The steps of melting, mixing, and solidifying are similar to baking bread or grinding grain, which is why the precise values set during the recycling process are called "recipes."

Recycled Plastic Chair, Peggy Gou X Space Available

20kg of discarded plastic was melted to create sheets, which were then cut into shapes. When making the sheets, the plastic was stirred to create a spiral pattern before it fully solidified. Designed to be assembled without screws, staples, or adhesives, it is a product that can be completely recycled.

Kerf Plastic, Kuo-Duo

The technique of "kerf bending" (used for bending wood) was applied to recycled plastic panels to create smooth curves without adhesives or chemical processes. This is an example of exploring the potential of materials through processing.

Menhir, Dirk van der Kooji

A table made from recycled plastic with an oil-like surface. It was created by compressing industrial waste, discarded CD cases, household electronics, and chocolate molds using a press and robotic arms bought from a closed car factory.

Chubby, Dirk van der Kooji

A chair made by inserting melted plastic into a 3D printer. It has a less "recycled material" feel compared to other examples. The designer mentioned that there were limitations in terms of comfort when making a chair using 3D printing.

Reefy, Lowlit Collective

A modular partition made from a material that combines hemp byproducts from the Andong hemp farming region with discarded plastic, created using 3D printing. This was designed to replace temporary installation structures in exhibition halls that are used once and thrown away.

The Ultimate Recipe Loved by the Whole Family

The demand for recycled materials continues to diversify. Going forward, recycled materials must be on par with regular materials in terms of durability, usability, and aesthetics to be truly meaningful. Some of the references above, where recycled plastic was pressed under high pressure or put into a 3D printer, are a bit unusual, but research is actively being conducted to develop "recipes" for plastics that are both beautiful and functional by using the right processing methods.

Recently, a recycled plastic has been developed in Korea that is durable enough to be used for building exteriors. I’m planning to introduce a collection of recycled plastics with various "recipes" and strengths, judging them holistically (+subjectively) based on their workability, uniqueness, durability, and eco-friendliness, with a “CONC Michelin Index.” Oh, and among the materials introduced here, (2) and (3) can be collected by the company for infinite recycling after dismantling, making them great for short-term projects.

(1) Recycled Plastic Terrazzo Sheet

CONC Michelin Index ★★★☆☆ / Overall Plastic, More Beautiful Than Flowers

A sheet made by compressing discarded plastic. The pattern resembles flower petals pressed into the material, which is charming. It can be purchased in 380x380mm units, and while it’s not strong enough for heavy-duty use in interiors, it’s sufficient for pop-up stores and smaller items. There’s even an example where the display sheet was recycled into a new sheet.

(2) Recycled Plastic Patterned Planter

CONC Michelin Index ★★★☆☆ / Overall Bought It Because It Was Pretty, Then Found Out It’s Recycled

A sample of recycled plastic with an unusual pattern. It offers six pattern options and color customization. You can either use the molds the company already has or order new molds to create your desired product. They plan to develop a sheet product for use in interior design next year.

(3) Dust Plastic Board (+ Dust Plastic Picker)

CONC Michelin Index ★★★★★ / Overall Many Little Pieces Make a Mountain

A recycled plastic sheet that can even be used as a wall finish. It’s installed either by fastening to the surface or directly bonding with PP adhesive. The warping of the sheet is prevented by heat treatment, and fireproofing is also an option. This product is made from the small "dust plastic" that is difficult to recycle at sorting facilities, and it can be ordered with specific patterns or colors by adding dye.

(4) Slag+Plastic Board

CONC Michelin Index ★★★★☆ / Overall Welcome to Element City!

A material developed by combining discarded plastic with slag (waste from steel mills). It was used for the exterior of Amorepacific’s ‘Aritaum Beauty Room.’ It’s lighter than wood but has excellent durability. It’s so strong that you need to pre-drill holes to attach it with screws. CNC cutting is easy, and though it’s a new material, its future applications are promising.

From eye-catching patterns to new materials stronger than wood, we see that the inevitable "disadvantages" of plastic are being addressed in various ways. At the same time, companies are working hard to achieve true resource recycling by collecting discarded materials and reusing them. According to companies, materials are easier to recycle when no films are applied and when minimal screws are used, so it’s better to consider this during the design phase. Thanks to the sincerity and efforts of many, recycled "recipes" are evolving to the point where they can now be compatible with existing materials—solving today’s material challenges.