Industrierelikt: Die Ressource Industrieabfall [Industry Relict: The Resource of Industrial Waste]
Product series | 2014
Funded by the Women’s Promotion Fund
Each year Germany produces 368 million tons of waste, 69 percent of which is recycled. The majority of this is comprised of municipal waste – not industrial waste. It seems that the industry often sends its waste to power plants as fuel out of fear that it would otherwise be misused. A newly developed recycling system is encouraging industry to reduce and recycle its waste. Production waste can be used as a direct resource for new products. The concept is predestined for the automotive industry in view of how much waste it produces and how little it recycles.
The result is a collection of handbags featuring fabrics used in automotive prototypes and veneered wood produced for decorative trims. The items demonstrate what kind of high-quality materials are disposed of during the production cycle. Each bag is a one-of-a kind with individually selected materials and colour schemes. Using recycled waste and producing in a socially and environmentally conscious manner accentuates their status as a sustainable and socially-valuable product. Their stylish design is distinguished by simplicity and diversity.