The Polyfloss Factory is a local plastic recycling system using the principle of candy-floss to produce wool out of waste.
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The Polyfloss Factory is a micro-manufacturing machine, that transform waste plastic into a versatile and usable making material: Polyfloss. Using the principle of Candy-floss machines, the machine allows to obtain foam-like material, easy to transform afterward. It can be used as such for insulation or protection, can be used as a textile, knitted, felted or spun, and can be molded with simple one piece molding techniques. All of these techniques can be combined to form complex objects. Makers can now include waste plastics into their range of materials to use.
This project is conducted by Nick Paget, Audrey Gaulard, Christophe Machet and Emile De Visscher.
In a post-industrial society, waste should be considered the new resource. Small scale up-cycling is developing everywhere, but thermoplastic stay a major problem in urban contexts. Thermoplastics are currently solely recycled on large scale industrial plants, which implies major sorting and handeling issues. Rare are the upcycling production techniques that succesfully transform this material at a small and local level.
Polyfloss was initiatied by a team of engineers and designers during their MA at the Royal College of Art : Nick Paget, Audrey Gaulard, Christophe Machet and Emile De Visscher. Following a quick success in the press and design world, they created a company and are now developing several projects in the humanitarian, green building, green packaging and recycled textiles fields.
Approach
Context
Background
Link to Polyfloss's website
Waste Plastic
(PP, Nylon and PET are best)
Yarns of Polyfloss
a new raw material
Polyfloss Machine
creates fibers out of waste plastic
Shredded waste plastic
Small enough to enter the machine
Spinning to get threads
Felt
Made with felting needles
One side molding
with a sheet metal mold
Full molding
with male and female metal sheet molds
Knitting
Woven textiles
Moiré flexible sheets
made by ironing the floss
Packaging
protecting and insulating
Insulation
Has very good thermic and phonic properties
Direct use
Molding
Textiles
achievements
workshops
Exhibitions
Antananarivo, MA
04.12.2020 - 15.01.2021
Institut Français Madagascar
NDAO HANAVAO - La Magie du Collectif
Marseille, MA
27.11.2019 - 28.11.2019
Kedge Design School
Sea waste plastic recycling workshop
Paris, FR
26.11.2018 - 06.12.2018
Musée des Arts et Métiers
Nouvelles Manufactures
Antananarivo, MA
06.2018 - 12.2019
N'Dao Hanavao - Rubis Mécénat
Setting up a permanent recycling plant in Mada
Paris, FR
03.06.2015 - 06.03.2016
Musée des Arts et Métiers
Design / Invention, Regards Croisés
Hyères, FR
25.10.2015 - 28.10.2015
Villa Noailles
Workshop for kids - Festival Pitchoune 5
Saint-Etienne, FR
02.05.2015 - 20.09.2015
Biennale du Design de Saint-Etienne
HyperVital
Paris, FR
02.03.2015 - 01.05.2015
École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs
Atelier Partagé Design - Textiles et Matières
Paris, FR
13.01.2015 - 23.01.2015
La Poste
Post-carbone
Abu Dhabi, AE
14.11.2013 - 23.11.2013
Abu Dhabi Science Festival
Polyfloss for kids
Valencia, ES
23.10.2014 - 11.01.2015
Botanical Gardens
Rehogar 6
Edinburgh, UK
23.03.2013 - 07.04.2013
Edinburgh Science Festival
Polyfloss for kids
Paris, FR
06.09.2014 - 13.09.2014
Paris Design Week
Design can change the world
London, UK
20.06.2012 - 01.07.2012
Royal College of Art
Workshop during the Final Show
Ljubjana, SI
09.09.2014 - 12.12.2014
BIO 50 Design Biennale
Hidden Craft
prizes
Rotterdam, NL
28.06.2014 - 30.08.2014
Het Nieuwe Instituut
Designing scarcity
Lausanne, CH
10.04.2014 - 17.04.2014
Habitat et Jardin
We Make It
Material Connexion
2013
Excellence in Material Development
Certification
Paris, FR
03.06.2013 - 10.06.2013
Galerie S. Bensimon
Wiittha Upcycling
Royal Academy of Engineering
2012
Innovation Hothouse
First Prize
Milan, IT
09.04.2013 - 14.04.2013
Salone del Mobile
Rettrobodega
FRAME
2012
10 best european diploma projects
winner
London, UK
22.02.2013
V & A Museum
Friday Late
collections
London, UK
30.11.2012 - 05.12.2012
Regent Street
Wired UK Popup store
Eindhoven, NL
20.10.2012 - 28.10.2012
Dutch Design Week
Paradise
Paris, FR
2020
Cnap - French national design collections
Polyfloss machine 3.3 and samples
London, UK
26.09.2012 - 30.09.2012
Frameless Gallery
Remix, a new way of making
Ljubjana, SI
2014
MAO, Museum of Architecture and Design
Polyfloss felt machine and samples
London, UK
21.09.2012 - 03.10.2012
Royal College of Art
Sustain Show
material libraries
London, UK
18.09.2012
Bloomberg Headquarters
Waste Not Want it 3
London, UK
22.06.2012 - 15.07.2012
Italian Cultural Center
Pininfarina
Paris, FR
Materi'O
Milan, IT
17.04.2012 - 22.04.2012
Salone del Mobile
Paradise
New-York, US
Material Connexion NYC
London, UK
05.03.2012 - 09.03.2012
Imperial College
Past, Present Future
Milan, IT
Matrec eco design
London, UK
01.02.2012 - 06.02.2012
Royal College of Art
WIP Show
