It looks like stone. But it’s not. It’s 100% recycled plastic.

This is what it looks like when a recycled material goes head-to-head with stone—and wins.

Last year our mates at Acryform made these beautiful these award blocks for the Amotai - Supplier Diversity NZ Awards.

They’re made using 9mm Forest Cleanstone. And while they look like greenstone, they’re made from 100% recycled soft plastics and fishing nets.

Nothing else. You wouldn’t guess it from the finish. Refined.

Dense. Seamless.

Here’s how they did it:

6 panes of 9mm Cleanstone

45° mitres cut into each edge on the saw blade

Outer faces aligned and fixed using hot glue to hold shape

Joints are almost invisible

No steel frame, no filler. Just craftsmanship and patience

To get this level of finish, they took into account Cleanstone’s natural thickness variation, aligning the outer edge first and letting the inside do what it wants.

This approach won’t work for everything, but for objects like awards or plinths, it’s magic.

If you’re thinking about using recycled materials in a higher-end context—yes, you can still get that premium, architectural finish.

Here’s what I learned:

Recycled doesn’t have to mean rough.
Mitre joins and clean alignment matter.
The right fabricator makes all the difference.

We’ve now started developing detailed install and fabrication guides for fabricators who want to get the most out of Cleanstone.

If you want access—or to be connected to a Cleanstone-experienced installer—DM me or head to criticaldesign.nz.

I’d love to help you pull off something like this.

What project do you think Cleanstone could replace traditional materials in?

#criticaldesign #sustainablematerials  #recycledplastic #cleanstone #circularmaterials #materialexploration  #aotearoadesign  #interiordesign  #retaildesign  #hospitalitydesign  #furnituredesign  #greenbuilding  #modulardesign  #lowcarbonmaterial  #designforchange  #netzero