Smile Plastics

Reuse, Repurpose, Reimagine: ReFRAME. It's more important than ever that we make conscious design choices; and, for us, that looks like putting circularity at the heart of our design practice. Thank you FRAME and Material Bank® Europe for featuring us in your roundup of recycled and waste-based materials ♻️

Today, we're reflecting on a fantastic time at Design Council's Design For Planet Festival; and what an inspiring day it was. We were honoured to be material partners for this event, and it was an absolute pleasure seeing our materials showcased at the Manchester School of Art – a huge thanks to Martyn Evans FRSA for hosting in such a stunning space, and once again to Will Atkins of Make Relief for creating the beautiful pieces. The festival was packed with brilliant and thought-provoking moments; from Patrick Grant's insights into building to last, to a powerful debate between James Vaccaro and Martyn Evans Hon FRIBA on profit vs. purpose, to a deep dive into designing for a sustainable future with Sophie Thomas. A massive thank you to Minnie Moll, Kyle Soo, and the entire Design Council team for putting on such an incredible event. We're already counting down the days to World Design Congress... See you all next September! >>> https://lnkd.in/eSfJ_AR5

With just under a week to go until Design Council's Design for Planet Festival, we couldn’t be more excited about our continued collaboration with Make Relief and our reception desk and plinths featuring in the heart of the festival at Manchester School of Art – a meaningful space for our shared vision. No matter where you are in the world, you can tune in to this year’s festival as it streams online, bringing together global perspectives on shaping a ‘Planet Positive Business’ future. Expect insights on how we can rethink prosperity with the planet at the forefront of every decision. Register for free >>> https://lnkd.in/ey5Upg7G

At the upcoming Regenerative Business Summit, lead by The Crowd, senior business leaders and sustainability experts will gather to tackle an essential question: how can we cultivate a resilient economy that actively restores nature and promotes social wellbeing? We’re proud to announce that our Founding Director, Rosalie McMillan, will join the conversation in an interactive session on 14th November at the WWT London Wetlands Centre, exploring strategies for embedding environmental regeneration at the core of business practices and offering a roadmap to a sustainable future that benefits both people and planet. Find out more and book your tickets >>> https://lnkd.in/eUJCVmDJ

As the days grow colder and the evenings longer, autumn has arrived with a chance for us to slow down and reflect. From exciting projects to innovations that shape sustainable design, here's what we are looking back on, and forward to, this autumn >>> https://lnkd.in/ewQgshD7

With circularity being the driving force behind all that we do here at Smile Plastics, we are naturally drawn to likeminded brands with complementary values. Take two of our collaborators: LUSH and GAIL's. Both are dedicated to high-quality, artisanal production and a commitment to freshness that drives their offerings – from hand-crafted cosmetics to daily-baked goods. Sustainability is at the heart of their business practices, embracing a circular economy and, as part of this, incorporating Smile Plastics’ materials into their eco-conscious store designs – often rolled out on a large-scale and delivered within a fast turnaround. Read about our collaborations with these two powerhouse brands here >>> https://lnkd.in/eTbaTiC6

Jasper Sanders + Partners PBSA project, 16-18 Potterrow, highlights how texture can transform a space, giving it a premium ambience. Our Orca material features prominently in the reception desk and the bespoke sixth-floor dining table, adding depth and character through the unique texture of recycled materials. Thanks to Material Source for the insightful write-up >>> https://lnkd.in/e7zC62aw

We're immensely proud of our material partners, LUSH, who have taken home two Retail Gazette awards. The iconic cosmetics brand not only won the 'Sustainability Game Changer' award, but also won 'New Store Game Changer' for their Glasgow City flagship. This stunning 20,000 sq ft space spans five floors and showcases several innovative concepts, including a shampoo bar and a spa. With approximately 146 panels of our 'Alba' and 'Charcoal' materials installed, the store has repurposed around 8,788kg of plastic waste – the equivalent of four white rhinoceroses – keeping it from landfill. Read about the awards here >>> https://lnkd.in/e9--Ctm7.

For the first time since 1969, the World Design Congress 2025 will take place at the iconic Barbican Centre, London, with the environment as the key focus of the two-day event. We’re so excited to be partnering with the Design Council to explore themes of reuse and circularity alongside other British designers and makers with a focus on sustainability. A big thank you to Minnie Moll for including us in your roundup for this amazing feature in the Financial Times >>> https://lnkd.in/ePAzADAd es devlin Lesley Lokko Tom Dixon Foday Dumbuya Suhair Khan Faber Futures Sebastian Cox Charlie Paton

Heron beautifully complements the colour palette of GAIL's new Cheshire Oaks bakery. The warm natural wood and burnt orange tones subtly enhance the material's ochre flecks, while the bright yellow coffee machine adds a touch of drama to this understated material. Once serving as white goods, Heron now takes centre stage in this thoughtfully sustainable design.