Droop Lamp

Collaboration with Apple Huang.

Droop explores the reuse of waste HDPE plastic, which is one of the most commonly used plastics in the packaging industry. Over 8 Million tonnes are produce every year, and this plastic will take centuries to degrade. Our plastic has been primarily sourced from milk bottles, coloured hand soap dispensers and shampoo bottles. Droop is formed from waste HDPE, one of the most commonly used plastics in the packaging industry. Droop plays with the nature of molten plastic and experimental methods for manipulating this otherwise readily discarded material.

When heated to over 180 degrees, HDPE will form a non-hazardous molten sludge, which can then be manipulated in various ways. We have created a two part mould, and using a traditional veneer screw-press have pressed the shape between these two parts, forcing the molten plastic into a shape that is intentionally bastardises the injection process in which the packaging in which these items are sourced. The end result is expressive of both the nature of the material and the physical force by which this has been compressed; the drooping plastic has allowed the molten elements to droop and sag. Being primarily sourced from milk bottles, this plastic once cooled is a translucent material suitable for a lampshade, whilst the shampoo and handsoap bottle colours, conjoured up in a marketing department as the most eye catching tones to jump off supermarket shelves, have been forced outwards by the compressive pressure of the screw press.

Given we’re stuck with this waste material for the next thousand odd years, we might as well see what it can do.