When I meet Liane Rossler and Sarah K, aka the Supercyclers, at designEx 2012, the pair are already eyeing a pile of discarded waste in a quiet area behind the vast exhibition halls.

It’s not unexpected behaviour from the 2 co-founders, who established the movement to highlight the innovative ways in which we can transform waste material into beautiful, functional and meaningful design.

Newspaper wood pieces by Ontwerplabel ViJ5, Breg Hanssen and Floris Hovers; Orange crayon sterling silver shot cup by Mark Vaarwerk; Plastic Bag Light by Blakeborough+King

“We make so many things we don’t really need,” explains Rossler.

“Supercyclers suggests that we can all be more actively involved in producing less waste by converting what we already have into something else.”

A fierce proponent of sustainable design, Rossler was instrumental in reducing the carbon footprint at Dinosaur Designs. She has also been trained by Al Gore as a Climate Change Ambassador.

Equally passionate about environmental change, Sarah K, a designer and curator, was “pushed over the edge” after witnessing the daily logging and transportation of mature trees from the window of Arp, her Hobart design store.

“I decided to take a serious look at manufacturing and suggest ways that we could make things in a more responsible way.”

The duo certainly practise what they preach and have collaborated on their own Supercyclers project, Plastic Fantastic, which demonstrates a creative re-use of plastic bags.

Plastic Fantastic tableware, Liane Rossler & Sarah K, presented at SOS

However, the pair maintain that the key to Supercyclers is its growing collective of global designers, who demonstrate fresh, inspiring and experimental approaches to sustainable design.

Sarah recently curated the Supercyclers exhibition in Milan which presented designs from honorary Supercyclers, including Andrew Simpson’s solar vase and Henry Wilson’s A-joints. To further prove the point, the exhibition fixtures were created from locally-sourced, discarded waste put together using Wilson’s multi-purpose fittings.

A-joint table, Henry Wilson

“We had a great response, including welcome visits from Daniel Freitag and Piet Hein Eek,” says Sarah K.

As well as adding more Supercyclers to the list, they will be re-exhibiting their Milan showcase at the Supa Centa, Moore Park, Sydney from June 15 – July 15.

Supercyclers
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