{"id":61149,"date":"2025-12-15T09:42:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T08:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticodyssey.org\/dunia-designs-high-end-furniture-recycled-plastic\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T12:21:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:21:47","slug":"dunia-designs-high-end-furniture-recycled-plastic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plasticodyssey.org\/en\/dunia-designs-high-end-furniture-recycled-plastic\/","title":{"rendered":"Dunia Designs: the art of turning recycled plastic profiles into high-end furniture"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” row_negative_margin=”disable_negative_margin” z_index=”” el_class=”headpage_article”][vc_column el_class=”toptobottom”][vc_column_text css=””]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.[\/vc_column_text]<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” anchor=”more” el_class=”article_content” padding_bottom=”40″ padding_top=”20″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”pb2″]<\/p>\n

Humble beginnings in Arusha<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”61107″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1765792954866{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt1″]<\/p>\n

Discovering plastic profiles<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Over time, Dunia Designs<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

In 2018, they began working with a dedicated profile supplier in Tenga, a partnership that continues to this day.[\/vc_column_text]

\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1765793057884{margin-top: -10px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Resilience through the Covid crisis<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A substantial and diversified production<\/h2>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”61110″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1765788648678{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt1″]<\/p>\n

A growing team and international expansion<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

More recently, the company has started selling its creations in Europe, marking a new milestone and opening up promising prospects for the future.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” el_class=”blog_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

\n

Share the post \"Dunia Designs: the art of turning recycled plastic profiles into high-end furniture\"<\/p>\n\n\t