Weez & Merl

Using leftover plastic collected from local Brighton and Hove businesses, sisters Louise and Merl, working together as Weez and Merl, produce beautiful homewares from coasters to vases to furniture

The plastic – low density polyethylene (LDPE) – includes the clear plastic wrappings from local shops and plastic carrier bags which add colour to the finished works. Once cleaned, the plastic is melted to form a dough, kneaded, blended with other colours, re-melted, re-kneaded, blended and rolled before being finally mixed together in a physically demanding process. Finally, it is pressed, cut, sanded and polished to create the marble-like finish of the final products.

Their innovative work helps to stop some of the 19m-plus tonnes of plastic waste that leaks into our oceans, rivers and lakes each year from polluting the environment further. (Source: UNEP.org)