Mattia Bernini is turning old plastic into a valuable resource anyone can cash in on. Traditionally, recycling relies on dedicated collection centres to sort and reuse waste. Bernini and his team at Precious Plastic have instead designed machines that break down plastic objects and remake them into functional objects. As part of their open-source initiative, they’ve published their plans and guides online for free so anyone can create their own recycling workspace at home. With tools to shred plastic, extrude it into new blocks of plastic, or inject heated plastic into moulds, you can turn rubbish into almost anything such as a vase or even furniture. Visit preciousplastic.com to learn more. Footage by Precious Plastic was used in the creation of this film.
Up Next in Season 2
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Alejandro Franco
Alejandro Franco founded the organisation Woodpecker to create sustainable and affordable housing in Colombia. Made from low-cost materials including coffee husks and recycled plastic, the structures not only provide shelter but also minimise waste. As part of the solution to the country’s housin...
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Luca Giacolini
Oranges are more than a fruit; they can be used as crockery too. Luca Giacolini is one of the designers behind Feel the Peel, a juice bar which goes beyond producing fresh beverages to also 3D-print disposable cups from orange rinds. Developed by Italian design firm CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, the...
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Katrina Fernandez
Smooth-coated otters are bumping into people in Goa more frequently. This is because communities in the Indian city are continually expanding into the native animal’s territory. “At some point, we will drive this species out of these areas,” Katrina Fernandez says. The ecologist and co-founder of...
