Product Brochure
Waste Made Wonderful
Smile Plastics is a materials design and manufacturing house making exquisite hand-crafted panels from waste materials.
On top of our classics range of panels, we also offer limited editions and a bespoke materials service, as well as a custom design and build
service.
Our materials have inspired designers around the world, and have been used in wide-ranging applications from small products to large-scale
installations in both residential and commercial premises.
Our mission is to change people’s perceptions around waste via innovation – to use art and technology to unlock the hidden potential in recycling, and open their eyes to the unexpected beauty of scrap. In doing so, we hope to inspire more people about sustainability and
recycling.
The ClassicsThe materials in our classics range are
all lovingly hand-crafted, with every quirk, imperfection and mottle telling a different
recycling story.
Each one has been tried and tested in a wide range of applications, from store design through
to furniture and product design.
Alba used in Lyan Cub, Hoxton
AlbaMade from manufacturing yoghurt pots Pattern Examples
The Panel
With its white, marble-like surface and hints of gold and silver, this is an elegant-looking material that
suits a wide variety of applications.
And it’s not just easy on the eye: closer inspection of Alba’s surface reveals fragments of yoghurt labels or a glint of silver foil that draw us in and reveal the
plastic’s unique recycling story.
100c
m
200cm
Alba used in YUME, a sustainability focussed concept store, Denmark
CharcoalMade from plastic food packaging Pattern Examples
The Panel
Our Charcoal material reminds us of stargazing on a cloudless night and seeing the sudden motion of a shooting star or comet.
Charcoal adds a subtle energy to any space, is easy to work with and pairs well with other plastics. In addition, the thinner 5mm material is translucent and can
be back-lit.
All these features make Charcoal the perfect medium for designers to launch ambitious new projects.
100c
m
200cm
Charcoal used in Michael Marriott stool for Ace Hotel’s Ready Made Go project
KaleidoMade from recycled plastic bottles Pattern Examples
The Panel
Lose yourself in the colour chaos of ‘Kaleido’.
A chromatic explosion made from upcycled cosmetic bottles, Kaleido is every maximalist’s dream. Bold, beautiful and mesmeric, many people have bought our
Kaleido panels as wall art for contemplation.
Closer examination of the material’s surface yields clues about its recycling journey, with smatterings of bar codes and labelling becoming visible.
Kaleido is a guaranteed head-turner. Use it to make a bold statement with your design.
100c
m
200cm
Kaleido used for Margot Hamelin’s furniture design
Black DappleMade from chopping boards and plastic bottles Pattern Examples
The Panel
Our Dapple material reminds many people of the cross-section of a cabbage, and many others of marble, yet we can’t decide who is right.
Playful yet sophisticated, Dapple’s high contrast patterns give it a lively personali-ty that evoke the material’s millions of years of biological, geological and man-
made processes
Dapple has been a long time coming, but we think it has been worth the wait.
100c
m
200cm
Black Dapple used in Paula Arntzen’s furniture design
Blue DappleMade from chopping boards and plastic bottles Pattern Examples
The Panel
Our Dapple material reminds many people of the cross-section of a cabbage, and many others of marble, yet we can’t decide who is right.
Playful yet sophisticated, Dapple’s high contrast patterns give it a lively personali-ty that evoke the material’s millions of years of biological, geological and man-
made processes
Dapple has been a long time coming, but we think it has been worth the wait.
100c
m
200cm
Blue Dapple used for Yard Sale Pizza, Walthamstow interior
OceanMade from plastic packaging Pattern Examples
The Panel
Awakening people to the amount of plastic in our seas, our limited edition ‘Ocean’ material celebrates marine beauty.
By collecting and recycling waste plastic, we can preserve the natural world whilst also creating something lasting and beautiful for
ourselves.
100c
m
200cm
Grey MistMade from plastic packaging Pattern Examples
The Panel
Inspired by walks in the Welsh hills, Grey Mist is the latest addition to the ‘Classics’ range of materials.
A sophisticated material with an ice-like aesthetic and medium depth and translucency, let Grey Mist create breathtaking scenery for you,
wherever you are.
100c
m
200cm
Benefits
Highly versatile. Wide range of applications from products and furniture to large-scale sculpture and construction
Unique. Good consistency between panels, but each one will have its own distinct pattern
Hand-made. Each panel is composed by hand
Sustainable. 100% recycled and 100% recyclable
Easily cared for. The materials are easy to work with, clean and maintain
No VOC off-gassing. All of the classics range of panels are made from chemically inert recycled plastics waste
Material Properties
The materials in our classics range have the following properties:
Hard, dense and rigid
100% waterproof, rot-proof and strong weather resistance
Solid and consistent, allowing you to have a decorative edge
Moderate scratch resistance, and can be refinished
UV resistance (except our Alba material, which yellows in the sun but can be refinished)
Can be heat-formed into shapes
Matt/planed finish, and can be polished
Can be machined, drilled, cut (router, CNC), water cut and fixed using adhesives and screws
Recommended Applications
There’s an almost limitless number of ways to use our materials, but the following applications have proven particularly successful:
Store and Exhibition Design – plinths, display counters, cabinets, signage, partitions and furniture
Bar/Cafe/Restaurant Design – counter tops, table tops, partitions, bathrooms, toilet cubicles
Office Design – table tops, shelving, seating, bathrooms
Product and Furniture Design – from jewellery to homeware to dining tables, both indoor and outdoor
Residential – bathroom panels, wet rooms, counter tops, splashbacks, cabinet doors, furniture and shelving
Recreation – playgrounds, swimming pools and spas
Why Use Our Materials?
Panel Options20
00m
m
1000mm
5mm
Thickness
12mm
20mm
*Note sheets usually come 2090x1090mm with unfinished edges (except Dapple)
* Thicknesses may vary up to +/-1mm* Thermal expansion of some sheets can be 2mm per meter over a 10 degrees Celcius change.
Ordering & ConditionsEmail [email protected] with your order. Up front payments
required by bank transfer.
We hold very little stock at present so its best to assume that we will make to order with usual lead times of 6-8 weeks for materials in our Classics range. For items in stock the lead time is usually 1-2 weeks.
Please allow 3-4 months for bespoke material orders.
You can purchase samples via our website, these are £2 each plus postage; we post worldwide.
Every board is unique and colours and patterns do vary within and between sheets. Where minimisation of colour variation is critical,
discuss your needs with us prior to order.
We try very hard to make our sheets as blemish free as we can, but they are not perfect; for example they may have dimples and minor
marks which are outside our control.
Smile Plastics terms and conditions apply to all sales.
Design Your MaterialWe work with a diverse set of businesses to create custom panels. We are able to create materials exclusively for you from a range of
different waste streams and using a wide variety of colour palettes. Please note there is usually
a 3-4 month lead time for bespoke projects, and costs vary substantially depending on the work required. Materials we have worked with: thermoplastics (e.g. HDPE, PET, HIPS), paper,
textiles and organic materials like tea, spices and coffee grounds.
Colour
We can make up materials in most colours including metallics, with both opaque and
transparent options
Properties
If you require specific technical properties for your material e.g. tensile strength or fire
resistance we may be able to meet your needs
Dimensions
At the moment our standard dimensions are 2000mm x 1000mm in 5mm, 12mm and 20mm.
If you require a different thickness, this might be something we can offer subject to minimum
orders or a tooling charge
How it works
1. Send us a mood board with your requirements for us to review options
2. We create one or a series of test tiles (charges apply for R&D)
3. Testing for large scale production if necessary
4. Run production of full scale panels
Applications
Restaurant/Bar
Our Smile Plastics panels are a springboard for the creativity and imagination of designers and
architects across the world.
The versatility of the materials means that our plastics have been employed in a wide spectrum of applications, from art installations through to
furniture and jewellery.
Alba used in Lyan Cub - Hoxton
Bespoke material for Baobab Cafe in Berlin
Exhibition Design
Bespoke material used in The Wellcome Collection - “Electricity - the Spark of Life” Exhibition
Alba used in The Wellcom
e Collection - “States of Mind” Exhibition
Kaleido used at London Design Fair 2016
Store Design
Alba and Explorer used in Selfridges Wom
enswear Dep
Black Dapple used in Selfridges Homeware DepAlba used in M.i.h Jeans Showroom, designed by de Allegri Fogale
Product Design
Alba and Explorer used in Open Desk x SPACE10 product designKaleido used for Saskia Pom
eroy product deisgn image by
Tian Khee Siong
Bespoke Red Dapple for Ineke Hans CHOPS product design
Residential
Alba for Indie & Co. interior design
Alba used in Archmongers Interior Design
Contact Uswww.smile-plastics.com [email protected]
Smile PlasticsUnit 24
Crofty Industrial EstateSwanseaSA4 3RS