De Nederlandsche Bank

De Nederlandsche Bank – From paper tray to plant stand

Plantstand made from recycled plastic for De Nederlandsche Bank

Plastic waste from moving

In 2020, De Nederlandse Bank moved to a temporary location so that their building at Frederiksplein in Amsterdam could be renovated. During the move, about 200 kilogram of blue paper trays appeared. Normally, this clean and brightly coloured plastic waste would end up in incineration. Luckily DNB found us and we were able to process their plastic waste into new products!

Plastic postbakjes die vrijkwamen door de verhuizing van DNB

Circular product for the office

Moving usually means buying a lot of new things. Therefore, we collaborated with DNB to research which products they would still need to buy. By making one of those products, we could also prevent buying more products made from virgin materials. Eventually we decided to create a flexible solution for the lack of natural walking routes in the foyer of the new building. That’s why we 3D-printed extra high plant stands. These plant stands are now used to indicate walking routes in the open spaced lobby. In this way, the customer service desk is separated from the lobby.

Plantenstandaard van gerecycled plastic

Closing the loop: Plastic waste from moving turned into an interior object

During this project, we have saved over 500 kg of clean and beautifully coloured plastic from incineration! But that’s not all. By using DNB’s own plastic waste, these special plant stands have an even bigger value for De Nederlandse Bank and their employees. This is how we truly close the loop on plastic waste!

plastic recyclen met 3D printers

Curious what we could do with your plastic waste?

Fairphone – From phone case to sustainable stool

Fairphone – From phone case to sustainable stool

Gerecycled plastic van telefoonhoesjes

Recycling phone cases

Sustainable phone company Fairphone came to us with a special request: “are you able to recycle phone cases that have pieces of metal and silicones glued onto it?” Yes, we can!

Fairphone was looking for a solution to sustainably process their old phone cases. These specific cases had written Fairphone on the back in metal letters. And there were silicone edges on the inside to protect the phone. Since materials that are glued together are very difficult to separate, no other recycler would accept the phone cases.

Fairphone phone cases

Recycling with our 3D-printers

Luckily, our 3D-printers are designed and built especially to be able to process this type of waste stream. By using a thick printline, we simply melt the pieces of metal and silicone into the product. In this way we were able to recycle Fairphone’s phone cases into new seating furniture for in their HQ, and flyer holders to take to events and conventions. 

Lumbar loungestoel van gerecyclede telefoonhoesjes

Een kijkje in de keuken bij Fairphone

During this project we closely collaborated with Miquel Ballester, Fairphone’s Circular Innovation Lead. Are you curious about his experience? Read this interview with him!

Finally, there is fun video that shows the entire project. Watch it here!

Are you curious to hear what we can do with your plastic?

HEMA – From make-up display to waste bin

HEMA – From make-up display to waste bin

Make-up displays en versnipperd gerecycled plastic

A unique waste stream

In 2019, all make-up displays in HEMA‘s stores were replaced. Therefore, over 2000 kilo of plastic waste came to surface. The plastic type of these displays (ABS) is rarely recycled in The Netherlands. Since the displays were collected and separated, we were able to still recycle this waste stream. That is why HEMA now has 35 recycling bins at their HQ, made from their own waste!

Afvalscheidingsbakken voor HEMA, gemaakt van gerecycled plastic van de oude make-up displays van HEMA. Er zijn vier afvalscheidingsbakken voor organisch afval, koffiebekers, plastic en overig afval.

A different colour for every waste bin

To establish a good waste separation, the bins for the different waste streams should be clearly recognizable. Therefore, we coloured the white plastic with pigment. In this way, we created a green bin for organic waste, a blue one for the coffee cups and a red bin for plastics. Adding pigment does not have any effect on the material. We are therefore still able to recycle this material again!

HEMA rode en witte afvalscheidingsbakken van gerecycled plastic

HEMA logo for a HEMA waste separation bin

These waste separation stations are especially designed and made for HEMA. To show this clearly, we printed the HEMA logo in relief on the side of the white and red bins. In this way, we are able to make these waste separation stations truly HEMA!

Deksel van afvalscheidingsbak HEMA van gerecycled plastic

HEMA’s Innovation Lead about this project

During this project we collaborated closely with HEMA’s Innovation Lead, Fabeel Butt. Are you curious about his take on our collaboration? Read the interview here!