The panels produced by Smile Plastics are made entirely from recycled plastic and are themselves fully recyclable. The company focuses primarily on recovering single-use plastics from a variety of sources, including old appliances, packaging and even yoghurt pots.
The raw materials used belong to three main categories of polymers:
– PET (polyethylene terephthalate), commonly used for bottles and food containers;
– HIPS (high impact polystyrene), often derived from discarded household appliances;
– HDPE (high-density polyethylene), typically found in cutting boards, caps and other sturdy plastic items.
Before processing, plastic waste is carefully sorted according to colour, polymer type, quality and physical characteristics. This care in the initial phase allows the different materials to be combined in a targeted manner, creating surfaces with unique patterns and a distinctive aesthetic.
In addition to being aesthetically original, the panels are easy to process and maintain: they can be cut, thermoformed, joined and adapted to numerous applications, offering remarkable strength and durability.
The production process is completely circular. Waste generated during manufacturing or finishing is reintroduced at the beginning of the supply chain, avoiding any waste. Furthermore, the panels do not contain any additives, resins or binders: they are made exclusively from pure recycled plastic. This approach not only reduces the environmental impact but also ensures that each panel, once it reaches the end of its life, can be recycled again, thus closing the cycle in a virtuous manner.
