Each year, approximately 100 billion PET-bottles are used and discarded, but only a fraction of those are reused. With an ambition to show the world how a circular economy can manifest itself at scale, the company Form Us With Love has in collaboration with IKEA created Kungsbacka, the first kitchen units entirely made from recycled plastic bottles and reclaimed industrial wood.
With twenty-five plastic bottles used for every 40 x 80 cm (15.7 x 31.5 inch) unit, Kungsbacka is a viable alternative for kitchen units as well as a statement to the world. Form Us With Love believes that a plastic bottle is not waste, but a resource, and should be used as such. The surface of the plastic film is durable and easy to keep clean, according to IKEA.
While the anthracite grey coating is made from plastic bottles, the plywood on the inside is made of recycled industrial wood, making the kitchen unit 100% recycled.
Working with IKEA and an Italian supplier, Form Us With Love explored the possibilities of the new kitchen material without losing track of the production cost. When using recycled and reclaimed materials, more research and development goes into the project. However, both companies have the philosophy that sustainability has to be for everyone. Form Us With Love managed to keep the kitchen units affordable and with a life expectancy of at least 25 years.
Like other IKEA products, the units are modular and can be used in almost any house. These kitchen units prove that recycled materials can be used for household goods in large-scale production.
Photos: Jonas Lindström and IKEA