Need to Know
19 : 01 : 21

London – Designer Tom Robinson has collaborated with material manufacturing firm The Good Plastic Company to create a flatpack chair made of recycled hardware.

The Evolve chair is the first release of a larger collection of eco-friendly plastic furniture. The material is made from crushed and granulated e-waste that is then fused into five plastic panels that make up the chair. This process acts as an alternative to the carbon-intense production of virgin plastics as it eliminates carbon emissions. Also, it allows the finished material to resemble a more natural looking wood which gives the chair its artisanal look.

‘Evolve's design was born from a need to present recycled plastic in a way that people could actually want to have it in their homes – whether it be in a flat or farmhouse kitchen,’ explains Robinson. He continues: ‘Plastic, by its very nature, is considered industrial, machine-made and artificial – it feels quite fitting and important to show recycled plastic as something that can appear more natural, crafted and synonymous with the interior landscapes of today.’

Explore more on designers shifting the narrative around plastic in our interview with Jimmy Macdonald, founder of London Design Fair.

Portugal – Fashion brand Paynter Jacket Co has unveiled an earth-friendly t-shirt with a lower material mileage than average.

The Six Mile Tee is is the latest from the eco-conscious fashion brand. Its conception is centred on research by fashion innovation platform Fashion For Good stating that it takes an average of 8,700 miles to make a t-shirt. The long distance covers how material travels from place to place in order to become clothing for consumers. Paynter Jacket Co looked to shorten the manufacturing distance to just six miles. The t-shirt will be sold in a small batch similar to its other products.

By basing the marketing around the concept of material mileage, the brand aims to tackle less well-known environmental issues in the fashion industry. Paynter Jacket Co has plans to iterate on its wider goal of creating a low-impact t-shirt by selling more limited batches in the future.

To satisfy consumer concerns about the environmental issues related to supply chains, the growing need for Eco-logistics is now driving greener manufacturing.

According to a survey by YouGov, research firm Mint and think tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR), urban Indians have different personal experiences during the nationwide lockdown.

When surveyed, 62% reported that their relations with family members improved during this time. When asked about mental health during the pandemic, more than a quarter (28%) said it worsened. Breaking this down into generations, the figures varied from 25% for pre-Millennials (aged over 39) to 29% for post-Millennials (aged 18–23). Yet only 30% of those with mental health issues said they had sought professional help.

With more people at home than ever, familial ties have strengthened. However, the survey shows that the psychological fall-out from the Covid-19 epidemic has been accelerated due to the lack of cultural awareness of mental health in India and the lack of trained professionals who can help to tackle this issue.

In our Gen Z Perspectives: India interview, we further explore how Generation Z are addressing India’s mental health crises.