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Dunia Designs: the art of turning recycled plastic profiles into high-end furniture
Dunia Designs is undoubtedly the company that has pushed the exploration of recycled plastic profiles the furthest. Welding, planing, sanding, bending: they have experimented with every possible technique to develop a range of high-end furniture that is truly unique. Here is a look back at their story.
Humble beginnings in Arusha
The project was launched in 2015 in Arusha, Tanzania, by Alexis, an architect, and Ivana, a psychologist. At the time, the couple was looking to create a business centered on recycling.
They began by producing upcycled seating. With the help of a friend who was an interior designer, their pieces were integrated into a design project, allowing them to take part in trade fairs and start selling their products. Back then, the activity remained a side project alongside their respective professions.
Discovering plastic profiles
In 2017, a key encounter marked a turning point: they discovered a producer of recycled plastic profiles and purchased 200 units. Using these materials, they began manufacturing furniture and decking. Using these materials, they began manufacturing furniture and decking.
Over time, Dunia Designs started collaborating with several players in the plastic recycling sector, including Green Venture, EcoAct, and ID Fabric. These partnerships enabled the company to grow and strengthen its operations.
In 2018, they began working with a dedicated profile supplier in Tenga, a partnership that continues to this day.
Resilience through the Covid crisis
Before the pandemic, Dunia Designs operated its own carpentry workshop. However, the Covid crisis forced them to close it and outsource production to partner workshops.
This period nevertheless allowed them to focus on strengthening their brand and refining their product range. In October 2025, they plan to reopen a new carpentry workshop. It will also include an educational component, inspired by the Precious Plastic movement, aimed at raising awareness and providing training around recycling.
A substantial and diversified production
Since its inception, Dunia Designs estimates that it has transformed nearly 1,000 tons of recycled plastic into furniture. Their raw material comes in the form of 2-meter-long boards, in 4-inch and 1.5-inch sections, sold at around 25,000 TZS per unit (3,500 TZS per kg).
Their production is distributed as follows: 85 percent furniture and 15 percent decking. In terms of markets, sales are split between 60 percent B2B and 40 percent B2C.
A growing team and international expansion
Today, Dunia Designs employs 20 people in the office and 7 carpenters. The production team is expected to double by the end of the year, particularly with the reopening of the workshop.
More recently, the company has started selling its creations in Europe, marking a new milestone and opening up promising prospects for the future.