In today’s digital world where most people stream media on their smart devices, millions of outmoded CDs and their cases turn up as waste annually, as consumers discard obsolete collections and retailers dispose of unsellable inventory. Transforming scrap cases into a sustainable design resource is The Good Plastic Company, which has repurposed over two million pounds of plastic waste and expanded its operations from its base in the Netherlands to New York City, London and Chernivtsi in Ukraine since its inception.
An expansion in its Polygood series of fully recyclable and recycled plastic panels, the sustainable materials manufacturing company's new Translucent Collection features a range of neutrals, refreshing lights, dramatic darks and vividly rich translucent designs. The Polygood panels are fire and water-resistant, with an optional UV-resistant coating, making them suitable for all settings and climates.
"More than just a design element, Polygood is a structural and scalable solution. Each pattern tells a story, embodying our mission to elevate sustainable materials to new heights," says Dr William Chizhovsky, the CEO and founder of The Good Plastic Company, adding that "with the Translucent Collection, we are pushing the boundaries of what recycled products can achieve."
The collection sources its colours from natural pigments, its crystalline base from recycled sheer CD cases and its vivid accents from recycled spools, acoustic panels, industrial tubes and single-use cutlery. The interplay of the materials and their transparencies creates striking combinations by absorbing and reflecting light, revealing effervescent bubbles and highlighting colour contrasts. Available in matte, satin or gloss finishes, with thickness options of 12mm and 19mm, the panels allow versatility in applications ranging from retail design to institutional design.
The Good Plastic Company was founded in The Netherlands in 2018, at a time when more and more businesses were incorporating circular economy solutions in their practice. Envisioning a way to repurpose plastic waste from the architecture and design industry, it devised a durable and fully recyclable surface design material that can replace the unsustainable options in the market. After developing an advanced in-house technology that measures essential parameters such as temperature, time, pressure, melting points and melt flow index, the company created its high-quality flagship product Polygood from recycled plastic in the form of panels. By 2023, the company was accredited with Cradle to Cradle Bronze Certification and Environmental Product Declaration for its circular production.
More than a product design venture, the Translucent Collection embodies hopes of a beautiful, sustainable future as it is an intersection of art, design and technology. Along with meeting aesthetic and environmental standards, the collection is designed to withstand the rigours of industrial use, giving it a long lifespan. The Good Plastic Company's dedication to sustainability extends beyond the initial life cycle of its products. The company offers a free-of-charge Take-Back Programme that encourages clients to return the used panels to reintroduce them to the production loop, minimising waste and repurposing resources. With its leading upcycled design material Polygood, the company continues to collaborate with international designers and architects to deliver functional, visually pleasing and climate-responsive design products.
(Text by Bansari Paghdar, intern at STIR)
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