Shopfitting with recycled materials

The future of retail lies in sustainability - and store furnishings play a central role in this. Recycled materials are conquering the retail sector and show how aesthetically pleasing and creative environmental protection can be. Companies such as Smile Plastics, Nagami, Nina+Co and Polygood prove that real design statements can be created from waste. 

Humanity is consuming resources at a rate that it can no longer sustainably manage, leaving behind huge amounts of waste. The need for sustainable solutions is particularly urgent in retail and shopfitting, where trends come and go. But there is hope: more and more companies are turning to innovative materials that not only protect the environment but also look good. Store fittings made from recycled raw materials have long been more than just a contribution to climate protection – they send a powerful signal for conscious consumer behavior and responsibility in design.

Anyone who thinks of gray monotony when they think of recycled material should take a look at the work of Smile Plastics. The British company turns plastic waste such as yoghurt pots into aesthetic panels that transform counters, shelves or walls into real eye-catchers. Each piece is unique, each grain tells a story – from the material to the processing.

Smile Plastics combines design with responsibility and makes sustainability visible and tangible. Their 100% recycled and recyclable sheets actively contribute to the lauded principle of the circular economy. For more than 30 years, they have been pioneers in sustainable material processing and impressively demonstrate that recycled materials can not only be functional, but also visionary and aesthetic – a conviction shared by brands such as Selfridges, Ganni, Lush and Klättermusen.

Another way to present recycling at the highest level of design is through technology. Nagami, a Spanish studio, combines recycled plastics with innovative 3D printing. The result? Furniture and displays that almost seem to come from the future. Organic shapes, surprising structures and an incomparable modernity make them the first choice for stores such as those of Dior and Ecoalf.

While Nagami experiments with technology, Nina+Co brings warmth and visionary thinking into play. With a deep commitment to people and the environment, the London-based interior design studio develops award-winning interiors and products based on consistent circular thinking and innovative materiality. What makes Nina+Co special is its work with materials that are as radical as they are well thought-out: Mushroom mycelium, algae and bioplastics meet traditional and new design approaches. Mushroom spores are added to organic waste, which grow into a solid structure in a mold and, after drying, become environmentally friendly, compostable furniture. The results are spaces that are characterized by clear forms, multi-layered levels of meaning and a “sculptural sense of texture”.

Polygood®, a brand that perfectly combines interior design and sustainability, closes the circle. The stylish, durable and waterproof panels made from 100% recycled plastic set new standards in the circular economy. The Dutch company behind the brand is The Good Plastic Company, which transforms plastic waste into high-quality design solutions, creating an innovative alternative to conventional materials.

Polygood® panels derive their colors and patterns from their origins: the subtle tones of old refrigerators or the vibrant colors of manufacturing components are reinterpreted in unique designs. These versatile surface materials – ideal for furniture, store fittings and facades – are not only aesthetically pleasing, but are also fully recyclable at the end of their useful life. Brands such as Nike, McDonald's and Adidas rely on Polygood® worldwide to design displays, furniture and façades with a clear environmental focus. This makes plastic not only a sustainable solution for design and architecture, but also a statement for the future: waste does not belong in landfill, but in the hands of creative minds.