Promotion: plastic can remain a useful material long into the future with a thoughtful approach, argues Smile Plastics co-founder Rosalie McMillan.
Smile Plastics, based in Wales, manufactures interior panels entirely from waste plastic for brands that include Ganni, Selfridges and Lush.
Founded during the 1990s by engineer Colin Williamson and designer Jane Atfield, the company considers itself a pioneer of the circular economy.
Fairweather and McMillan revived Smile Plastics in 2014. Photo by Wecreate. Top photo by Bofink
Along with fellow designer Adam Fairweather, Rosalie McMillan revived the brand in 2014 after it had lain dormant following Williamson's retirement in 2010.
Together, McMillan and Fairweather have sought to show that plastic can be compatible with circular principles as they have scaled up Smile Plastics' operations. "Plastics have some amazing properties that can be harnessed through thoughtful design," said McMillan.
"Plastic itself is not inherently the issue, in our view ? rather, it's the linear production model and the lack of cost-efficient waste management systems and infrastructure that are problematic, as well as our poor relationship with the material."
Smile Plastic's manufacturing process creates distinct surface finishes. Photo by Bofink
Around 400 million tonnes of virgin plastic is produced around the world each year, with less than 10 per cent of it recycled.
Smile Plastics' products intentionally bear remnants of the...