Just one of the inspirational faces behind the LifestyleGarden^® brand and parent company ScanCom International, Stig Maasbøl has been recognised in his homeland of Denmark for successfully driving and implementing initiatives that contribute to a better environmental effort. A driving force behind Scancom’s newest collaboration with Plastic Bank, Stig talks us through what this exciting new partnership means and his vision for the future of manufacturing.

How did the partnership with Plastic Bank come to fruition? What attracted you to the organisation?

We were already quite advanced with plastic recycling from ocean and land sources but lacked the social impact. I read an article about the work that Plastic Bank did, after which, I simply reached out to them. We initiated a few meetings to discuss a possible cooperation and the impact we could have together, before giving the concept and project over to Plastic Bank.

The main point for us was that this venture gave us the opportunity to turn waste into modern, stylish outdoor furniture whilst, at the same time, making a difference to the lives of the communities who have the vital job of collecting plastic waste. 

Why is this such an important progression in plastic manufacturing?

What we are doing works against the major players in virgin materials and against standards that were introduced purely for virgin material. We are having to develop recycled plastic material in compliance with standards that apply to these virgin materials, which is not an easy task.

We need to work together to make a significant impact and, therefore, the retailers – and governments – have to change their technical standards to suit more recyclability and stop asking for full traceability.

At ScanCom, we allocate substantial resources to developing these solutions by combining the raw materials, the moulds and the production equipment; and we already have an extensive proven record in this field.

What opportunities does this exciting partnership with Plastic Bank create for your business?

This is not just a chair or collection… it is, in fact, a whole story about how to change the world in our industry and make a social and environmental impact at the same time. That’s huge!

Of course, the opportunities are important, but we also know we run the risk that price points will fluctuate and could increase, which means it perhaps isn’t a commercial success. However, I feel that ScanCom, our retailers and the consumers should be able to pay the right price to make this a success because, believe me, the cost will be much higher later on, if we do not all take responsibility.

What opportunities does the Nassau collection, powered by Social Plastic^®, create for retailers and how does ScanCom plan to support them?

We are going ‘all in’ with this project and have invested in R&D, plastic moulds, and ensuring we have the necessary recycled raw materials so, for us, there is no way back – either we go for it 100% or we don’t do it at all!

The opportunities for retailers are huge but it is incredibly important to tell the story about the concept and to be proactive about informing consumers. These are the products and philosophies that the world needs to make a difference, and we have the capability to work together to make it happen. We’re not just talking about big ideas here; we can make this change a reality! The story is not only about cleaning up the world and having a strong social impact; it is also about how, by using these kind of materials, the products can look different.

What is your vision and what more can be done to achieve it?

The vision is that all of our plastic products can be developed based on sustainable, recycled material. Unfortunately, today’s technical standards are still not adapted to a modern world that wants to make a strong environmental impact, so it will take time.

Looking further ahead, the vision extends beyond plastics, as we are also focusing on re-using waste from wood and aluminium, which are possibly considered less ‘sexy’ but are actually polluting more in the process. 

What drives you?

Many things but, in this aspect, it is more to create another purpose to our company than ‘only’ generating profit and, I am convinced – although it will take time – that the younger generation will support our purpose and drive for doing business the right way, which is very much down to using the raw materials and resources already made.

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.co.uk and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society.  They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the material for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic.  Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.  Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.  Learn more at www.plasticbank.com