Trash to Treasure: Six Australian Brands Reframing How We View Waste

Recycling may have its issues, but it’s still an important ‘R’ in the #reducereuserecyclerefuse life goals mantra. And as today is Global Recycling Day, may we remind you of the importance of recycling, if avoidance isn’t possible or practical. Moving forward we need to look at waste with a different mindset – because there is no such thing as ‘away’ – so here are six innovative companies reframing how we view waste.

Seljak Brand

The Seljak sisters are doing it for themselves and wrapping us up in warmth at the same time. United by their vision of a world without waste, Karina returned home from New York to build Seljak Brand with her sister Sam. Their beautiful recycled wool blankets are made using offcuts from the factory floor and the regenerative cycle continues even past the initial purchase. Once you’ve finished with your blanket, the brand will take it, shred it and spin it into new yarn to create a new one – taking closed loop cosiness to a whole new level! Dune (from their recent range) is made with reclaimed textile waste, combining factory floor offcuts of 16 mills around Europe, while Lune is made with yarn spun in Italy out of old woollen jumpers and garments.

Replas 

Replas uses plastic waste collected from the REDcycle Collection Bins at Australian supermarkets to make a range of outdoor products from fitness circuits to sturdy outdoor furniture, bollards, signage, boardwalks and dog park infrastructure. Even more of a reason to start collecting your soft plastics if you’re not already! 

Spindrift Collections

If you look for jewellery that tells a story, you’ll love Spindrift Collections – a nature-inspired range that aims to fuel your inner wanderlust and transport you to places you’ve not yet been. Prioritising the use of recycled materials, including recycled sterling silver and hand-collected beach glass, alongside a fully traceable supply chain, the Sydney-based company was founded by British-Australian designer Natasha Wakefield and is a proud member of 1% For The Planet. Also known as sea glass or mermaid tears, beach glass is made from discarded bottles and jars which have made their way into the ocean. Over many years the waves, water and salt naturally smooth the glass down to a soft and polished finish. Spindrift hand-collect and source their glass from beaches and shorelines all around the world.

Transmutation

Started in South Africa in 2006, Bread Tags for Wheelchairs is a volunteer-driven initiative that collects bread tags for recycling companies so they can raise funds to buy wheelchairs for those in need. Its Australian arm recently teamed up with South Australian recycling partner Transmutation to transform the plastic tags into bowls and serving boards, with the colourful, retro-inspired bowls containing over 1800 bread tags each! Find your local bread tag collection point at ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au – support a great charity, keep plastic out of landfill, and contribute to these cool homewares! 

Raise The Bar

Not only do Raise The Bar’s coffee scrubs come in a handy bar format – so you can actually bathe in your favourite brew – but they’re also made to fight plastic pollution and waste in the beauty industry too. Frustrated by the use of fresh coffee rather than post-brewed grounds in body scrubs, Raise The Bar’s founder, Bronte Hogarth, began repurposing coffee grounds collected from local cafes and pairing them with lush ingredients like brown sugar, jojoba oil, shea and cocoa butters plus essential oils. Launched following a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2018 the cruelty- and microbead-free, vegan and 100% natural bars come in two scents – orange and peppermint – and are sent in compostable packaging. Consider that bar raised.

Upparel 

Horrified by waste within the textile industry, Melbourne socks-and-undies-maker Upparel (previously known as Manrags) began to encourage customers to send in their old (clean) socks for recycling – and thus, the world’s first circular subscription club was born. With the initiative proving wildly successful, the company expanded to accepting clothing and shoes – a nifty move that diverts huge amounts of waste from landfill and scores the sender a handy credit. Hello, win-win!