The urgency of plastic as an environmental problem is clear, at the same time, a world without plastic is hard to imagine. We have to think differently about plastic as a material and deal with it differently. Companies and designers are already contributing to this. By using bioplastics or other alternatives from renewable materials and by producing and designing in such a way that plastic products last longer, are easier to separate and, therefore, easier to recycle. 

Curated by Leonne Cuppen, the Embassy of Rethinking Plastic and Yksi Expo have been fully committed to this theme for the past year. The main exhibition is continuously updated and alongside this, there are temporary side exhibitions. Within the Rethinking Plastic Academy, students from various design courses and young, recently graduated designers work on the theme of plastic.

Circular mattress
Auping Evolve is the first fully circular mattress in the world and is made of steel and polyester. We have recorded the (origin of) the materials in a 'Product passport'. By scanning the Niaga® label on the side of the Auping Evolve with a smartphone, you can see exactly what the mattress is made of and how it is recycled. Honest and transparent. Auping Evolve is produced in the Netherlands, in our sustainable factory in Deventer. In the Rethinking Plastic House the Auping Evolve mattress lies on the fully recyclable Auping Essential bed in the color Royal blue. The modern design of the Essential brings rest in every bedroom. The sustainable frame of the Essential is demountable, re-usable and made of 40% recycled aluminum. 

Studio equipped with numerous examples
To inspire consumers, companies, researchers and designers, Yksi Expo will introduce the Rethinking Plastic House during Dutch Design Week 2021, a fully equipped studio with numerous examples of (building) materials and (interior) products made from recycled plastic or bioplastic or made from alternative, renewable materials.This project is realized in close collaboration with companies and knowledge institutions of Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen the center for the development of high-quality circular materials and processes and partner in Chemelot Circular Hub.

Open till sunday October 24, daily between 11h00 and 18h00. 
Location: Strijp-S, Torenallee 22-04 in Eindhoven

Photo credits: Jeroen van der Wielen