ECOLLABO8 may sound unfamiliar to the ears of many people who don’t follow sustainability developments in Indonesia. However, their hard work in providing impact and innovation in processing recycled plastic waste can be accepted. ECOLLABO8, @ecollabo8, is run by Kevin Vignier and his brother Dylan recycling plastic trash into immaculate pieces that don’t even look like it’s made from plastic anymore like this pergola project.
ECOLLABO8 is like a magician who can turn plastic waste into beautiful and luxurious furniture, from tables, chairs, sunbeds, and pergolas. Yes, you heard it right. ECOLLABO8 transforms 1600 kilograms of plastic waste into a stunning pergola for The Avocado Factory in Bali.
It took 1.5 months for the entire team to complete this pergola project. ECOLLABO8 team explained to Social Expat that their production capacity allows them to manufacture 40 plastic planks (160kg) per day, which entailed a production period of two weeks—allocating another two weeks for the processes of convection and the additional two weeks for the construction of the pergola on-site at The Avocado Factory, Bali.
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Given the massiveness of this project and the team’s statement that the construction of this pergola was their biggest project yet, Social Expat was quite curious about the difficulties and challenges they faced in this project. When we asked, the team explained that they mainly faced logistical problems between the designer, contractor, and the ECOLLABO8 team.
There is no innovation without controversy, right? When the video of their pergola building went viral on social media, some people questioned the strength of the pergola they were building, even accusing it of melting and burning under the hot sun of Bali.
When explaining this to us, ECOLLABO8 assured us that recycled plastic materials are more durable and weather-resistant than wood. Their recycled plastic planks are impervious to rot, resistant to termite infestation, and require minimal maintenance compared to wood. They also profoundly deplore the negative stigma in society, who still considerrecycled plastic as a weak material unsuitable for building materials, even though recycled plastic planks can be the right choice for use in tropical climates such as Indonesia instead of wood.
As mentioned before, this massive pergola project incorporates thousands of kilos of plastic waste reprocessed into plastic planks by ECOLLABO8. The team explained that this enormous amount of plastic waste was collected through several methods, such as working with their partners and partnering with suppliers. ECOLLABO8 is also open to working together with some other sustainable companies & organisations. The team gave examples of this cooperation from their previous project; for the “Havaianas ReCycle ” project, Havaianas collects their customers’ old sandals, and the team recycles them. Another project mentioned was when they collaborated with The Body Shop’s “Bring Back Our Bottle” initiative, where Waste4Change collected the bottle, sent it to ECOLLABO8 for recycling, and turned it into furniture for The Body Shop’s Gallery.
ECOLLABO8 aspire for people to develop greater awareness and consideration regarding plastic waste, recognising its potential value and transformative capabilities. The team believed that it is essential for people worldwide, especially in Bali, to understand that waste possesses boundless opportunities to be transformed into sustainable and durable creations for everyday life.
Last but not least, the team also mentioned several exciting future projects for ECOLLABO8, some of which are:
- ECOLLABO8 will have more exciting collaborations with renowned brands like Under Armour and The Body Shop to create innovative art pieces like murals made from recycled plastic. These collaborations showcase the creative possibilities of transforming plastic waste into unique and sustainable artworks. Repurposing plastic waste into aesthetically pleasing pieces will raise more awareness about recycling and inspire others to embrace sustainable practices.
- Collaboration for interior and construction field: Not only moulded products (amenities) for hotels or villas as they did before, they are also expanding their reach into interior design, furniture, and construction through collaborations with hotels, restaurants, and architects. ECOLLABO8 aims to demonstrate the limitless potential of using recycled plastic in various applications. This collaboration will showcase how plastic waste can be transformed into durable, long-lasting, and visually appealing products for interior spaces, furniture, and construction projects.
- Recycling Glass and Multi-Sachet Waste: ECOLLABO8 will soon be venturing into recycling glass and multi-sachet waste! They will quickly be able to transform these materials into functional products such as roof tiles, decking, and paving blocks. This expansion into glass and multi-sachet recycling further reinforces ECOLLABO8’s commitment to sustainability by diverting these materials from landfill and giving them a new purpose. The resulting products will be durable, sustainable and contribute to the circular economy.
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