How Rotomoulding Everyday Plastic Becomes Ghent's New Circular Story

This creative philosophy is deeply personal for Pepijn. His own story is tied to a scar on his thumb from a childhood incident, a mark that now serves as a constant reminder of a seemingly trivial event with a practical, meaningful twist. Much like his designs, this scar is a permanent part of his narrative. Pepijn's creative process is driven by memories and the objects he encounters in his daily life, embracing "serendipity" and allowing happy accidents to guide his work. His motivation is clear: to create work that is sustainable, durable, and thoughtfully made.

The Core Challenge: Finding Potential in the Unnoticed

The studio grew from recognizing the vast potential in materials and objects around us. Pepijn notes that most products around us go unnoticed or are treated as waste, while they still have so much to offer. This realization led to the vague idea of "sampling everyday objects into new design objects”.

His materials of choice are often things like old laboratory plastic, discarded laundry baskets, and broken bottles. These overlooked items become the base of new, functional objects such as CAN, PETIT-FOUR, and WIEBEL KROEZ. Pepijn feels there is a huge opportunity to create playful, colorful products from these things. This adds familiarity and approachability to the products, inviting people to see more potential in what they already have.

Connection to Plastic Waste & the Plastic Lab

Pepijn's approach directly aligns with the mission of the Trash to Treasure project to promote the reuse of plastic waste. His process, which involves material sorting, shredding, and rotomoulding, highlights the need for local processing and simple technologies to close the loop on plastic. His work is a perfect demonstration of the capabilities championed by initiatives like the Plastic Lab (as featured in Blogpost 3), proving that discarded plastic can be transformed from a problem into a high-value resource.

The Green Entrepreneur: Slow, Transparent & Social

Running a studio sustainably with a local production base is challenging but profoundly rewarding. Pepijn uses a mix of analogue and simple technologies, predominantly rotomoulding, sheetmetal techniques, and electricity (welding, bending, connecting wires).

The production is conducted in close collaboration, highlighting a strong social focus. Material sorting, shredding, and preparation often take place at day centers such as VZW Mozaïek, while assembly and finishing are done in sheltered workspaces or in his own atelier. Pepijn emphasizes that the best part of this work is building strong relationships and working with people, not just processes. This hands-on, slow, and transparent approach is what makes the work truly fulfilling.

Pepijn’s Wisdom: Advice for Young Designers

For young people looking to follow a similar path, Pepijn offers simple yet crucial advice:

"Search, explore, and develop what you like, but accept that it’s a long journey to develop everything.

Build a network by showing your work and talking to people.

Don’t wait until everything is "perfect" before starting: start before you're ready.

The most important skill is seeing small opportunities, going step by step, and having fun (and getting angry sometimes!).

Be Naive and go for it: the path is never linear."

Finally, he reminds creators that starting a studio means starting a business. Financial awareness is key: "Financially create a safety net, your studio is not only creating. It’s also about being a sustainable business."