It's 400 million tonnes of plastic waste, reimagined. Every year, almost all of it ends up in landfills or the ocean. Only 9.5% gets recycled.
WATCH VIDEO
That number hasn’t changed in over a decade.
So what do you do when the system is broken?
You design something better.
Wendy Hannah and Wayne Lowen teamed up with us at Critical to transform plastic bags into something durable, tactile and beautiful — Cleanstone.
The result?
Raranga Taiao — woven from recycled plastic bags
Toa Toki — sculptural strength, carved in waste
Both are now finalists at the 2025 Auckland Art Show.
Designed by X Collective Space, these pieces are proof that:
Waste can become form
Recycled plastic can be premium
Sustainable materials deserve the spotlight
If you’re an architect or designer, you know the pressure:
Reduce carbon
Meet deadlines
Impress clients
Keep things beautiful
That’s why we made Cleanstone:
Made from 100% recycled plastic
Built to last
Spec-friendly for commercial interiors
Designed to invite touch — not landfill
We’re not asking you to compromise on design.
We’re asking — what if the materials you spec could speak to your values too?
Come see the works.
And if you're ready to reclaim waste, not just manage it — let's kōrero.
The clips and full version is available on YouTube & TikTok & Spotify.
Jump on criticaldesign.nz for more.
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