#recycledplastic
Ohhcean sex toys are made from recycled ocean plastic
Danish brand Sinful has created a range of three sex toys using ocean plastic collected in Southeast Asia.
The Ohhcean collection comprises a wand and two vibrators — all made entirely from ocean-bound plastic. A thin layer of silicone covers the products to make them waterproof and pleasurable.
"The question was how to take something that already exists and put it to new use?" Mathilde Mackowski, co-owner of Sinful told Dezeen.
"The answer for us, at this moment, was ocean-bound plastic – we want to focus on different ways to approach production and think in new ways concerning material," she said.
Ohhcean is a range of vibrators and wands made from ocean plastic
The brand worked with Tide, a Swiss manufacturing company that turns waste plastic into products, to create the Ohhcean range.
In collaboration with local fishermen, Tide sources thermoplastic polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastic from shorelines around oceans, streams and lakes in Thailand.
For Ohhcean, the company collected plastic bottle lids that were then washed and shredded into small pieces before being processed using renewable energy.
The sex toys come in aqua colours
The resulting sex toys – a magic wand, vibrator and body massager – are available in a variety of hues, from sea green to royal blue.
As well as being made from natural materials, the sex toys have an organic look, with curved shapes and a smooth feel. They are all fully rechargeable and the vibrators come with seven different vibration patterns.
"The ocean has been our inspiration from day one so naturally, we've been influenced by soft shapes," explained Mackowski. "The organic meeting of the waves when they clash and the curves of a drop."
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Mackowski embarked on creating the range after noticing that there was nothing available on the market that was made fully from recycled plastic.
"The ocean plastics emergency has never been so widely reported, and rethinking plastic production within the sex toy industry had to arrive sooner or later," she said.
"We just weren't ready to wait for anyone else to get moving," she added.
The plastic is collected from oceans in Southeast Asia
Eventually, Mackowski hopes that the same material will be used to expand the range, but she believes that it will take time for recycled plastics to be as easily accessible as those typically used for sex toys.
"Reducing the impact of my products on the planet became an obsession, but it also proved to be a long and complex journey met with many challenges, but consideration for the environment was first and foremost," she said.
"The products from Ohhcean by Sinful had to be nothing short of a luxurious sex toy but this is just the beginning," she added.
Plastic has long been used to produce sex toys, but the material's environmental impact has led some consumers to opt for less damaging options across products of all kinds.
In response, designers including Shahar Livne have turned to ocean plastic to create fossil-like jewellery for Balenciaga, and brands such as Adidas have used the recycled material for a range of apparel.
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#all #design #products #productdesign #plastic #sextoydesign #oceanplastic #recycledplastic #recycling
Lego develops recycled bricks made from discarded bottles
Toy brand Lego has created its first prototype bricks using recycled PET plastic from discarded bottles.
Created as part of the Danish company's drive to make all of its products from sustainable materials by 2030, the brick prototypes were created from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), a common thermoplastic used for products such as bottles and clothing.
Above: Lego has developed prototype bricks made from recycled plastic bottles. Top: a one-litre plastic bottle provides enough material for around 10 bricks
The prototype, which has been developed over the past three years, was made from used plastic bottles acquired from suppliers in the United States.
A one-litre plastic bottle supplies enough raw material for around 10 2x4 Lego bricks.
Lego has tested hundreds of different plastic variations
Lego trialled over 250 formulations of the recycled plastic to create a brick that complies with the company's quality, safety and play requirements.
Its "clutch power" – the ability to snap onto other pieces of Lego – means that it is compatible with Lego's standard bricks.
The recycled plastic bricks are now undergoing testing
Lego now plans to rigorously test and develop the prototype brick before assessing whether to move the rPET into production.
Tests will determine whether the patent-pending material formulation is strong and durable enough for Lego bricks.
"We need to work on how we colour the material consistently and look into the different shapes it can be moulded into," Lego told Dezeen. "Then we will be in a position to assess whether to move into pilot or trial production."
The bricks are designed to be compatible with older Lego bricks
"Any new materials we use must live up to the high quality and safety standards as those we apply to our existing products – this includes the product durability," the brand said.
Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, Lego has become one of the world's leading toy brands. This is in part thanks to the iconic brick's durability.
Since 1963, the majority of the billions of Lego bricks produced each year have been made from a plastic called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
Finding a material as durable as the traditional ABS bricks has proved to be difficult for the toymaker.
"For us, the challenge comes from needing materials that can be moulded to the accuracy of a hair width to ensure bricks produced today fit with those made over 60 years ago, while being durable and safe enough to be handled by children day-in, day-out," said Lego.
"Lego bricks are designed to be safe and durable enough to be passed from generation to generation rather than being thrown away. Despite this, we are committed to making our products from more sustainable materials in the future," it continued.
"To do so, we need to invent entirely new materials, as existing sustainable materials do not meet our safety and quality requirements."
A one-litre plastic bottle makes 10 Lego bricks
The bricks were created as part of the toy company's wider strategy to make all core Lego products from sustainable materials by 2030. Its sustainability goals include developing bricks from bioplastic and generating little or no waste. Last year, the company announced it will begin removing single-use plastic from its boxes.
Lego defines a sustainable material as something that is "responsibly produced, using renewable or recycled resources, generating little or no waste, use sustainable chemistry and be fully recyclable at the end of its life."
The prototype bricks are white, as Lego is still developing ways to colour the recycled material consistently
In 2018, the company launched sustainable bricks made from sugar cane. Earlier this year it released a set of flowers to help people "switch off and relax" at home, which included parts made from the bioplastic components.
"We're committed to playing our part in building a sustainable future for generations of children," said Lego.
"We want our products to have a positive impact on the planet, not just with the play they inspire, but also with the materials we use."
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