recycled plastic bottles – The Interiors Addict

Koala launches sustainable homewares with an Australian first

Koala are continuing to expand their offering beyond mattresses by branching into homewares. The collection of over 30 pieces spans cushions, throws, and the first wool rug range in Australia to use certified Responsible Wool.

Founder and CEO Mitch Taylor says the expansion is one of their most exciting yet. “Homewares as a category is traditionally the pinnacle of “fast furniture” so the challenge of revolutionising the industry excited us. Koala first disrupted the mattress industry by cutting out the middleman, and then the furniture industry by creating furniture built to last, and now we’ve done it again with homewares.”

Koala’s in-house designers work on every single piece from scratch, before turning the pieces over to master craftsmen and women in India. “With homewares, we want to celebrate Koala’s uniqueness whilst doing something meaningful and timeless for the brand. We’ve created a real sense of something special you can’t get anywhere else, with all colours and material finishes inspired by the Australian landscape, from outback red dirt to beautiful coral reefs,” said design director Alexandra Owen.

Koala’s new collection was created with sustainability in mind. The wool rugs are made with Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) wool, sustainably sourced from New Zealand. Additionally, rugs such as the Bottlebrush Rug are made with 100% PET recycled plastic bottles, reducing waste in landfills or the ocean.

Jen’s loving the Beach Bum Throw, inspired by native flora and fauna and made from certified organic cotton

There’s not a stitch nor seam that hasn’t passed Koala’s rigorous sustainable standards. This includes using blended or 100% OCS Organic Cotton, responsibly sourced wool and fabrics made of recycled plastic bottles. Plus the brand worked with suppliers who prioritise fair work practices.

Available for pre-order now

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Recycled bottles feel so soft in new rugs by Hali & Jason Grant

A new collab from Melbourne-based brand Hali Rugs and Australian interior stylist Jason Grant sees a beautiful collection of sustainable rugs. Designed over 18 months, the pieces work indoors and out and they’re reversible!

Jason is known for his relaxed and natural, feel good Australian style and family-owned Hali Rugs has a 40-year heritage designing and sourcing handmade rugs from India and other countries around the world. Managing director Dan Swart worked closely with one of their trusted artisan suppliers and fabric mills to create a new, signature yarn for this project.

The range represents future possibilities in sustainability as the rugs are soft, tactile and feel like wool, yet they’re made from recycled plastic. The Hali team chose to turn the yarn into flat weave rugs rather than pile to accomplish this feat. Plastic bottles were collected from river systems and scrap heaps to reduce waste, and transformed with heat. Using only natural dyes throughout the manufacturing process, they managed to take something harmful to the environment and create a fabric that feels organic.

The versatile COAST collection can be styled around the home or outside on balconies, terraces and in gardens. They also come in specific sizes for wet areas like the kitchen or laundry. Made to be incredibly durable to ensure a long lifespan, you can simply wash them down with a pressure hose and hang them out to dry.

The collection has a fringe detail for added texture and prices start at $130. The muted palette of greens, blues, greys and soft pinks is inspired by nature.