Rethinking materials

We’ve been developing sheet materials from post-consumer plastic since 2016. Our early products were thin sheets resembling terrazzo and therefore easily recognised as a recycled product. While this aesthetic gained traction, we noticed that the industry was relying on that visual cue to signal sustainability and our sheets were used mainly as cladding. For us, that meant it was time for change.

Years of working in art production with resins taught us the value of precision and high-quality finishes. It also left us with a sense of importance to consider a material’s impact over its full lifecycle. In our search for artistic continuation we were looking to combine that refined experience with reuse and reduction of impact.

This led us to develop Karlite, a solid surface material made primarily from discarded headlights. Working closely with mineral pigment manufacturers we were able to achieve natural tones soft hues and subtle translucency, offering the same level of finish and refinement possible with resins.

Increased sheet thickness eliminates the need for backers, allowing Karlite to stand on its own. Rather than trying to look sustainable, Karlite quietly embodies a different way of thinking about materials, production and use while remaining fully recyclable.

Get your hands on some samples if we sparked your interest.