Smile Materials’ cover photo

About us

Smile Plastics is a materials design and manufacturing house making exquisite hand-crafted panels from waste materials. On top of our classics range of panels, we also offer limited editions and a custom materials service, as well as a design and build service. Our materials have inspired designers around the world, and have been used in wide-ranging applications from small products to large-scale installations in both residential and commercial premises. Our mission is to change people’s perceptions around waste via innovation – to use art and technology to unlock the hidden potential in recycling and open our eyes to the unexpected beauty of scrap. In doing so, we hope to inspire more people about sustainability and recycling.

Industry
Design Services
Company size
11-50 employees
Headquarters
Swansea
Type
Privately Held
Specialties
Plastics Recycling, Plastic Panels for Designers and Architects, Bespoke Plastics Recycling, Decorative Panels, Sustainable Surfaces, Sustainable Materials, Recycled plastics, Closed loop materials, Circular Economy, Recycled Materials, Beautiful materials, Architectural Panels, Building materials, Bathroom surfaces, Retail displays, and Innovative materials

Locations

  • Primary

    Kingsway, Swansea West Industrial Park

    Swansea, SA5 4DL, GB

    Get directions

Employees at Smile Materials

Updates

  • Congratulations to the COS team on being named the world’s third-hottest brand in the latest Lyst Index. An incredible achievement and a testament to their focus, creativity, and dedication to timeless, responsible design. We’re proud to partner with COS on their flagship stores, providing 100% recycled, recyclable surface materials that align with their commitment to quality. A huge well done to everyone involved.

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    288,179 followers

    COS has been named the world's third hottest brand in the latest Lyst Index. This is a remarkable leap up four positions from last quarter - thanks to a 147% surge in searches for the brand on the shopping platform. Our chunky cashmere jumper also returns as one of the quarter's hottest products, celebrated for embodying COS' design expression - timeless quality, considered proportions and effortless modernity. This achievement is once again a reflection of the focus, creativity and dedication of our teams globally, as well as our community, who continue to connect with our vision of creating a wardrobe rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. Thank you to our colleagues for making this happen, and to Lyst for our top three ranking. Read more about the Q3 2025 Lyst Index: https://lnkd.in/ehjNh9VJ

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    4,171 followers

    At Fish Shop DC, design and dining are guided by a shared value system rooted in regeneration. Every detail, from the willow and wisteria installations to the bespoke tartan walls, reflects a deep respect for craft, place, and conscious design. Across the space, Smile Materials take shape in Alba surfaces and custom marbled and tartan tabletops, created from 100% recycled and recyclable plastics otherwise destined for landfill. Created in collaboration with Artfarm, the restaurant’s material palette tells a story of renewal and responsibility. A visual reminder that reimagined materials can be both beautiful and purposeful, carrying stories of transformation and opening a new chapter of connection. Photography credit: Dave Watts

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    4,171 followers

    Meet Made To Order. Positioned between our Core and fully Custom offering, Made To Order offers guided customisation: a flexible palette of 32 (and counting) Smile Plastics surfaces that balance individuality with dependable performance. Designed in response to your feedback. Made from 100% recycled materials. Always evolving, just like the waste streams they come from. Discover more over on our Journal >>> https://lnkd.in/eTDi6hPM

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    4,171 followers

    Lululemon's Regent Street flagship is their largest store in EMEA. The perimeter display units feature Heron in Marine Blue, a material that wears its lifecycle on its sleeve. Would-be discarded white goods make up the foundations of this material, each panel carrying the story of its past life while performing like any high-grade fixture. A quietly bold statement proving circularity isn’t just a concept, it’s a material decision that shapes experience. Read the full article in the comments >>>

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    4,171 followers

    Few seasons have been as busy, or as inspiring, as this autumn. From London Design Festival and Design London Shoreditch to World Design Congress and Grand Designs Live, it’s been a whirlwind of creativity. Amid all this activity, we evolved to Smile Materials - reflecting our growth, our values, and our vision for the future. Here’s a quick roundup of where we’ve been making an impact, and a sneak peek at what’s coming next. Read more >>> https://lnkd.in/eKK_zJZe

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  • This week, furniture designers bogaerts, will be presenting their new Echo Side Tables during Dutch Design Week. These experimental tables are made from playful offcuts of Smile Heron Material, recycled once again from Bogaerts Butler table collection. The half-round cuts from the original 3000mm x 1200mm sheets reveal organic shapes that form the foundation of the Echo design. The name “Echo” reflects how these shapes resonate, a reinterpretation of what was once considered waste. Each table is unique and emerges only when the material allows, celebrating reimagined materials at their best. Photography: @ronaldsmits Design and Build: bogaerts

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  • It’s been a month since World Design Congress, but the call to Design for Planet is still loud and clear. We’re proud that our founder, Adam Fairweather, featured in the talks programme, sharing his perspective on how considered materials and design can drive real-world impact. Missed the live sessions? Rewatch them here: https://lnkd.in/eSfJ_AR5

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    129,793 followers

    It’s been over a month since World Design Congress and the powerful call to action: Design for Planet. The energy was electric, the ideas were huge. But the real work starts now integrating those radical visions into your everyday projects. These are the three key shifts we should be making in our daily design practice: Stop designing for human comfort alone. As Dr. Jane Goodall challenged us, make Mother Nature your co-designer. Are your materials, systems, and structures actively enhancing the environment? Kate Raworth and Mariana Mazzucato proved that our economic system is a design problem. Your new brief is systemic change. Prioritise circularity and create value by eliminating waste. The scale of the climate crisis demands we break free from silos. Brian Eno reminded us that design is a collective act. Reach out. Partner. The future needs radical collaboration across every discipline. If you missed the momentum, or need a powerful reminder, watch the recorded sessions for just £5 here: https://lnkd.in/eSfJ_AR5 #DesignForPlanet #WorldDesignCongress World Design Organization The Jane Goodall Institute Teman Evans Dr Stephanie Hare Rodrigo García González Cecilia Brenner Cat Drew Celine Semaan Nick Foster RDI Norman Foster Foundation Charlot Magayi

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    4,171 followers

    An entirely new offering, Smile Fibres comprises a selection of expressive panel materials made from textile and other fibre waste. Launching with two reimagined textile products—Blue Denim and Loom—created in close collaboration with a manufacturing partner guided by a shared belief in thoughtful design and a commitment to innovation. With our Welsh factory rooted in denim production, it's a full-circle moment in our journey of design-led creativity. Samples available now >>>

  • WE ARE Smile Materials. A new chapter in Smile Plastics’ story. Expanding our scope to give you greater choice, Smile Materials goes beyond plastic. We transform discarded materials into beautiful, functional surfaces, supporting you in contributing to the circular economy, one waste stream at a time. Three categories. One vision.⁠ ⁠ Reimagined Materials, Designed to Inspire.⁠ Find out more about our full circle evolution >>> https://lnkd.in/evufnCHm

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