Pigment and Tableware From Chip Bags

Upcycling Overlooked Plastics

Crispy is a creative collection of serving bowls crafted entirely from delaminated post-consumer crisp packaging, right down to the paint used for decoration. This upcycling effort takes non-recyclable crisp packets—which are usually destined for landfills or incineration—and transforms them into functional art pieces.

Through a specialized, solvent-based process, a single crisp (potato chip) packet is delaminated into four key materials: two types of polypropylene (PP) films, metallised polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or PP, and ink. Each material is reclaimed and processed separately to maintain its integrity. The reclaimed PP films are remelted and cast into serving bowls, while the branding ink is extracted and turned into Crisp Colours pigment, with each unique color representing the original branding of a specific flavor or brand of crisps. The metallised PET films are spun into threads, woven to form an elegant casing around the bowls, which can be easily disassembled.

The Crisp Colours project, a precursor to Crispy, explored the material transformations as a way to repurpose each element of crisp packaging. It was to emphasize the potential of recycling and upcycling overlooked plastics. The approach was to reduce waste and showcase the utility of materials once thought to be unreclaimable.

Product Name: Crispy Bowls & Crisp Colours
Manufacturer: Alara Sipahioglu
Project Status: Concept // Prototype // Market Ready // Series Production Ready

Source: Alara Sipahioglu
Image Source: Alara Sipahioglu