Indonesian non-profit organization Sungai Watcg presents the sustainable Ombak Chair, which was designed by its design studio Sungai Design. The goal of the furniture piece was to form useful products using materials collected from Bali's rivers. It is made with the help of American designer Mike Russek as the duo created a sheet material that is entirely made from discarded plastic bags. Each chair requires about 2,000 plastic bags, which have been collected by Sungai Watch to build on the emission of eliminating ocean plastic pollution.
Kelly Bencheghib, who co-founded Sungai Watch with her brothers Sam and Gary speaks to Dezeen about the design process. She states, "Collecting and amassing plastic waste solves one part of the problem of plastic pollution, the second challenge is what to actually do with all of this plastic. As we collected hundreds of thousands of kilograms of plastics, we started to look at plastic as an excellent source material for everyday products we all need and use, from furniture to small goods to even art."
Upcycled Plastic Bag-Made Chairs
Sungai Watch Creates the Ombak Chair from Plastic Bags
Trend Themes
1. Upcycled-material Furniture - Innovative furniture pieces are being created using upcycled materials, such as plastic bags collected from rivers in Bali.
2. Sustainable Design Solutions - Design studios are exploring sustainable solutions by repurposing discarded materials like plastic bags into functional products like chairs.
3. Plastic Pollution Mitigation - Initiatives like Sungai Watch aim to combat ocean plastic pollution by transforming collected plastic waste into tangible and practical items.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The furniture industry has the opportunity to incorporate upcycled materials into their products, contributing to sustainability efforts and reducing waste.
2. Design Studio - Design studios can explore innovative ways to repurpose discarded materials like plastic bags, creating unique and eco-friendly design solutions.
3. Environmental Conservation - Industries focused on environmental conservation can leverage initiatives like Sungai Watch to address plastic pollution through creative and sustainable practices.