Dulux Project Earth
CONSULT // DESIGN // DEVELOP // MANUFACTURE
From a Waste Source to a Resource.
When Dulux Trade first reached out to us, they were facing a major plastic waste issue. Every year, over 42 tonnes of plastic waste were being generated from paint drums, pails, and tear strips alone. The tear strips, though small—just 14 grams each—added up to an alarming 28 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with projections indicating this could rise to 54 tonnes in the near future.
On top of the environmental impact, builders were also spending more than $247,000 per year to dispose of this valuable but underutilised plastic packaging.
THE BRIEF
Our team immediately recognised an opportunity to create a circular economy—transforming plastic packaging from a costly waste issue into a valuable resource. But there was a significant challenge to overcome before we could begin.
The used paint pails were contaminated to varying degrees, making them unrecyclable without proper cleaning. This step was critical—and it was something that no other manufacturers or recyclers had been able to solve.
THE PROCESS
We designed and manufactured a range of trade products for retail, including 15L paint pails, paint tray rollers, paint stirrers, and more. Our goal throughout the design process was to use recycled materials to create products that were not only more sustainable, but also stronger and higher quality than those made from virgin plastic currently on the market.
After extensive prototyping and testing, we successfully developed our first paint tray—engineered to be so tough it can withstand the weight of a 4x4 Ram with no damage.
THE RESULTS
