Plastic Guys: Brno's Circular Design Heads into a New Manufacturing Era

Revolution in Design: When Waste Gets a New Face

The project is led by architects Marco Aulisa, Ondřej Venclík, and colleagues, who started melting plastics in pizza ovens. Since 2022, they have been producing recycled design panels from plastic waste: 100% recyclable, made from the same group of plastic, and free from additives. The panels melt the plastic into themselves under a specific temperature and pressure. This process guarantees true circularity and aesthetic variability of the boards – from translucent segments to materials resembling artificial stone.

Demand is Growing and So Are Ambitions

They export the material not only to the Czech Republic and Slovakia but also to Germany, Austria, and Sweden. They cooperate with renowned brands – Adidas, Škoda auto, mmcité, and Ambiente – and have received prestigious awards such as the Public's Choice Award at the Interior Award and Czech Grand Design for the myTreedK projects and the Dalmatian stool. The production of one 32 kg board also saves over 60 kg of CO2 compared to conventional materials.

New Production Line: A New Era Begins

In autumn 2025, Plastic Guys will launch a new production line for the production of large-format panels – up to four times the current dimensions. The current standard of 1500 × 1000 mm is set to expand first to 2500 × 1300 mm, and next year up to 3000 × 1400 mm in one piece. This investment will elevate the company's production capacity to a new level and offer technology worldwide.

As part of this expansion, Plastic Guys plan to introduce a new furniture brand, unveil additional texture variations of the material, and host a series of events for architects and designers in Brno, Prague, and Bratislava.

New Furniture Brand Off-space: Design with a Material Story

Under the Off-space brand, Plastic Guys will offer collections of tables and singular pieces designed by designer Matěj Chabera. They are united by minimalism, timelessness, and the use of Mínus® panels in textures like White or Black Dalmatian. The goal is to show that recycled plastic stands not only as a material but also as a full-fledged element of premium furniture.

How the Boards Shape the Architecture of the Future

Large formats of Mínus® panels open up uses in both interiors and exteriors – from partition walls, splash walls, benches, large meeting tables without seams to bars in cafés, reception counters, or lighting installations. The material can be processed with standard woodworking tools, is waterproof, chemically resistant, and variable in surface treatment. Aesthetically and environmentally, it surpasses many traditional alternatives.

Sustainability Philosophy in Action

Plastic Guys do not stop at production – they are initiators of the debate about the future of the material. They are convincing that plastic can be a principle of design, not a compromise.

As their sales director Vít Gilánik says: "Recycled plastic is already a competitive equal among other commonly used materials. Compared to the usual ones, however, every piece tells the story of a material that got a second chance."

Conclusion

Plastic Guys confirm that sustainability can be aesthetic, sophisticated, and inspiring. They are entering a new phase thanks to large-format production and the Off-space brand. For architects searching for materials with a story and performance, this is a clear signal: recycling is not an exception but the future.

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