Shoppers can only get recycled products from Miniwiz's Exchange pop-up store in Sardinia if they bring in plastic to be repurposed, as the shop doesn't accept money.
Located in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, the pop-up sells items made in-store from donated materials, including plastic water bottles, take-away coffee cups, and shopping bags.
Shoppers get credit for new products, including colourful tiles and lamp shades, by giving post-consumer waste to be ground down and repurposed.
The Exchange pop-up store uses Miniwiz's Trashlab technology
The pop-up is the latest iteration of circular-economy engineering company Miniwiz's Trashlab. The mobile laboratory, which aims to demonstrate the possibilities of reusing waste, has previously appeared at London Design Festival, Milan design week and in Tibet. The store is equipped with Miniwiz's Trashpresso machine, and a smart rubbish bin called Robin.
Robin tracks and sorts the waste into types, and transfers it into points that the consumer can save using the Robin app. These points are used to purchase as the pop-up doesn't accept any cash.
Products including tiles and lampshades are made within the store
The Trashpresso portable recycling machines clean and dry the waste before shredding the separated recyclables into small flakes.
These are combined and heated in a heat induction press, with the particular temperature dependant on the constituent parts. The heated plastic is moulded and pressure applied to shape it.
The entire produ...