Offcut Factory is a collaboration with our local factories to make use of their waste offcuts more innovatively, through reframing our perception and treatment of material "waste".
We are currently supported by DesignSingapore Council, under the Good Design Research programme.
In Singapore about 5.88 million tonnes of solid waste was generated in 2020, of which 3.04 million tonnes, or 52% of the generated waste was recycled. In waste types such as stone and ceramic, the recycling rates can be as low as 11%. Waste that is unable to be recycled is ultimately sent to the landfill, which is projected to run out of space by 2035.
Source: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling
UNUSED, BUT NOT UNWANTEDMaterial waste is a prevalent problem in the manufacturing industry. Most material offcuts that are produced during manufacturing are inevitably left abandoned as industrial waste.
Material waste is a prevalent problem in the manufacturing industry. Most material offcuts that are produced during manufacturing are inevitably left abandoned as industrial waste.
However, many of these offcuts have a beauty of their own and need not be discarded. Through conversations with the factory owners, we found that many of them have expressed a shared wish to see these offcuts being better utilized as well.
HIGH DISPOSAL COSTS
We have learnt that manufacturing businesses often have to pay an exorbitant fee to dispose of their material waste.
We have learnt that manufacturing businesses often have to pay an exorbitant fee to dispose of their material waste.
In addition, it is often the only way for them to manage the accumulated offcuts in their premises. They are aware that it is an extremely wasteful practice but see no alternative solution.
WHAT WE DO
Beautiful materials for everyone, no matter where they come from.
By working with factories to post-process discarded offcuts into usable materials, we provide an opportunity for people to conveniently obtain quality materials at at a democratic pricing.
For businesses, this presents an opportunity of new revenue streams through a purposeful transformation of material waste.
Find out more about the reclaimed materials that we offer here.︎︎︎
Transforming offcuts into products, made by local craftsmen for the world.
We envision a partnership with craftsmen and technicians from local factories to co-design a collection of functional lifestyle objects that are made from their material offcuts.
By tapping on their particular manufacturing expertise and know-how, we can create pieces unique to each factory’s DNA.
Check out the objects that we have made with the factories here.︎︎︎
PRESS AND MEDIA