Faced with plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, the association Échos d’Océans collects waste, for example, in Corsica, to give it a second life. The collected waste is then entrusted to a recycling and upcycling company in Gémenos (Bouches-du-Rhône), where it is transformed into furniture and other design objects.
The shores of Corsica are overwhelmed by waste, with dozens of items counted. This site had only been cleaned up just three months ago, and everything needs to be done again by the volunteers of the Échos d’Océans association. The plastics must be collected and now brought to the mainland, to Gémenos. Eric Dupont, co-founder of the Échos d’Océans association, says, « In a year, we collect about 100 to 150 m³ of waste, which could be recycled by finding a technological solution downstream. »
From plastic waste to woodworking
This recycling company is one of the solutions. The first step is to chop the plastic by color in a shredder, then turn it into chips, and finally into flakes of a maximum of five millimeters. Stéphane Testa, the founder of Carbon Blue, explains: « The idea is that this plastic, as it is, is ready to be transformed. A waste, as we’ve seen, is currently a nuisance to the sea. It will become a finished product, a sheet that will then be worked on by a woodworker, who will be able to make all sorts of products from it. »
Valued products, and of superior quality
A raw material with varied colors that will be used to create furniture. This is a culmination for Dorian, the designer. He states: « When we talk about recycling today, it’s often assumed that these products must be of lower quality. However, what we want to show is that plastic waste does not impact the quality of the finished product in any way. »
It’s been two years since this family-run business, with five employees, has been betting on recycled plastic and ecology. A commitment also aimed at denouncing the society of overconsumption.
Source: francebleu
