Scientists and environmentalists have long warned about the dangers of plastic pollution, especially now that plastic trash of all types is choking the world's rivers and oceans. High-end designers have responded by "upcycling" discarded objects into unique, desirable design pieces.
One Milan art expert has launched an initiative dubbed Guiltless Plastic on the sidelines of Milan's premier Furniture Fair design showcase, commissioning one-of-a-kind pieces made by top designers from discarded plastic and hoping to inspire a wider movement.
Gallerist Rossana Orlandi has curated an exhibition titled "RO Plastic—Master's Pieces" of original objects crafted from plastic trash by such luminaries as Australian designer Brodie Neill, Italian Piero Lissoni, and Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek.
The goal is to bring attention to the potential to transform and repurpose recycled plastic, some reclaimed directly from the sea.
Patricia Urquiola, a Spanish designer based in Milan, made a "Wasting Time Daybed," from upcycled plastic. The base of the daybed is created from an agglomerate of colorful recycled PET plastic. Its body, backrest, and arms are made from recycled drinking bottles and the piece is covered with blue and gray post-consumer textiles.
Urquiola said she wants to help upcycling grow into a sustainable system "in a playful but also provoking way."
"There is no such thing as waste because time only knows reinvention," she said.
Image 1: German designer Alexander Schul poses with his creation, 'Sobstantial Chair', made from sheets of recycled plastic, high impact polystyrene.
Image 2: Italian gallerist Rossella Orlandi sits on Spanish designer Nacho Carbonell's chair 'Re-evolution', made with recycled plastic from packaging.
Image 3: Italian designer Fabio Novembre poses sitting on his 'Jolly Roger' chair, made with upcycled plastics.
Image 4: Designers Piero and Francesco Lissoni pose next to their creation set consisting of a set of bowl, a vase, and a lamp, made with upcycled plastic.
Image 5: Australian designer Brodie Neill poses next to his creation '"Capsule: Ocean Plastic Hourglass", on a table made with his self-created Ocean Terrazzo material, made with plastic waste from oceans.
Image 6: Spanish designer Fernando Mastrangelo poses sitting on his creation 'Tombstone Chair'.
Image 7: Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti, poses next to his creation made with Polaroid unused cartridges.
Image 8: Designer Tiziano Vudafieri poses under to his creation 'The Wilhem Lamp', made of recycled polycaronate.
Image 9: Design artistic director Barnaba Fornasetti poses in front of a paravent folding screen 'Fornasettiana Remix', made with regenerated polystyrene.
Image 10: Designer Patricia Urquiola relaxes sitting on her creation 'Wasting Time Daybed' made from upcycled plastic.
Image 11: Italian designer Massimiliano Locatelli lies on a sunbed made with upcycled plastic bottles, called 'Anonymous Design Beach lounger'.
Image 12: Italian designer Matteo Cibic poses next to his creation ''Cabinet -oh', made with recycled packaging plastic.
Image 13: Designer Piet Hein Eek poses next to his creation 'Electronic Man', made with recycled plastic pieces of variuos electronic devices.
Image 14: Designer Lucio Micheletti poses next to his creation 'Victory', made with maple wood and recycled plastic from bottles and containers.
(Image Credit: AP/Luca Bruno)