Source: Green Report. \”UPCYCLING in ROMANIA: How furniture designers \”play\” with waste – translated excerpt-Published May 10, 2016.
\”Damaged pallets, tree trunks fallen in storms, worn tires, and used mattresses—these are just a few of the materials that several Romanian designers utilize, transforming them into pieces of furniture. What they do is called \”upcycling.\” It is the process by which a waste product acquires a higher value than its initial one, and it is different from classic recycling (downcycling).
I mentioned in the previous episode of the Green Report series that there are a number of upcycling initiatives in Romania. We learned how the stories of Reciclare Creativă, Upside Down, remesh, and Turific began. Now, we will \”meet\” the people behind Wood be nice, QUIB, Tubatect, PinkLime, and PIMP the GARBAGE.\”
\”Adrian Ibric, the founder of Tubatect, also produces furniture. This time, however, the utilized waste is cardboard. More specifically, cardboard tubes from plotters, which he transforms into shelves and desks. He has been collecting them since 2007 in the plotting center he owns. In a very short time, Tubatect became a standalone business.
The main characteristic of the cardboard tube furniture is that it is 100% eco-friendly. To maintain its sustainable character, Adrian refused to use paint, even if doing so would make it more attractive and durable. He believes that this is exactly what attracts clients: the sustainability of the product. He admits, however, that the design also plays an important role. Even if it is extremely simple, it immediately catches the eye.
Furthermore, the fact that it is modular makes it easy to dismantle and adapt according to needs. However, it is not highly durable, gets dirty easily, and deteriorates if it gets wet. In the plotting center, it has held up for about 5 years so far. And it will last just as long again, Adrian believes, since it is used for storing files.\”