When it comes to plastic waste, to say it’s excessive is an understatement: The U.S. alone in 2018 generated 35.7 million tons, according to the EPA. In 2019, it was the country with the largest plastic waste footprint, with around 486 pounds per capita.
Luckily, the agency’s 2024 report National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution notes that plastic pollution could be reduced by about 80% through circular solutions.
Consider the benefits of sustainable design declared in Gensler’s Design Forecast 2025: Buildings that integrate resilient and sustainable strategies are driving demand and trading at premium values. In turn, a strong supply of innovations materials is needed to keep pace with demand, which the firm dubs a “materials revolution.”
One brand leading the revolution, The Good Plastic Company repurposes plastic waste into sustainable materials used at places as diverse as high-end showrooms and high-traffic fast-food tabletops. Started in Europe and now in the U.S., with Asia on the way, the company has transformed plastic waste since 2018. Its Polygood product is 100% recycled and recyclable, made at scale.
In its 2025 Design Forecast, Gensler reports seeing architecture and design clients beginning to prioritize circular product solutions and how, once no longer needed, it can be reused, repaired, remanufactured and recycled. This will prompt makers to consider these requests during the development process.
Started in 2018 out of a desire to fulfill the demand for scalable, sustainable solutions within the architecture and design industry, The Good Plastic Company noticed that there were few options available.
“There were not really solutions for the design industry to implement any circular materials, the demand was already there, and different certifications and governmental programs pushed companies to make a change,” said Viktoriia Siedova, company co-founder and sales and marketing director.
Since, they have achieved the goal they set for the company – to find a solution for plastic waste at scale – and have repurposed more 2 million pounds of plastic waste into high-quality products.
Beyond the amount of plastic waste, another challenge that Polygood addresses is CO₂ emissions, something that the design industry contributes to significantly. The Good Plastic Company CEO and co-founder William Chizhovsky asked early on, “How can we reduce emission with recycled and recyclable products?”
“Architects understand clearly that they have to do something with climate change, they have to be using more sustainable approaches, more sustainable material, reuse or make life longer for projects. All of these factors can contribute a positive impact,” he said.
When specifying and implementing solutions, keep in mind a product’s makeup and availability, and financial and environmental metrics. Look for a partner that is transparent and honest about its practices to avoid greenwashing. Talk with the representative, view company certifications and product documentation.
“It’s really important to not only claim that the material is circular and green and sustainable, but also have third-party proof about it,” said Chizhovsky. “It can be hard sometimes to understand what is right, what is wrong, what is true or not.”
Polygood is Cradle to Cradle certified, heavy metal free, safe for food contact and healthcare use, has a VOC A+ rating, and is recognized by Declare, among others. Chizhovsky points to a conversation with architects that said they question material producers if they can’t provide certifications.
Polygood surfaces appear in shops of well-known brands including Coach, BMW, Adidas and McDonald’s. Companies of this size and footprint need reliable, scalable solutions that offer a consistent product.
Chizhovsky said companies are looking for a large-scale solution, only to find out that the supply is limited. Look for a supplier that can be relied on at a global scale, he recommends.
While Polygood was built for environmental consciousness, businesses are driven by business optimization.
“Choosing recycled and recyclable products support ESG commitments, and showcase savings and social responsibility activities,” said Siedova, which can help reduce taxes or additional fees in some places.
See if the product offer tangible things like CO₂ savings that can be added to reports and messaging. The Good Plastics Company can provide measurable impacts for each panel sold: Polygood has about 10 times better emissions compared to virgin plastic and 5-6 times better than traditional materials like solid surfaces, said Chizhovsky.
The Good Plastics Company is showing no signs of slowing. It is looking to open its first North American factory within the next few years – current North American warehouse material comes from Europe – and are expanding into the Asian market.
In early 2025, the company released a line in collaboration with Gensler. This nature-inspired collection, which reimagines traditional surface materials like marble and terrazzo, was recognized with Best of NeoCon win.
“What we created together is something that doesn’t exist on the market at all,” said Siedova. “It is comfortable to look at, feels high-end and is aesthetically beautiful.”
Chizhovsky said he is proud of coming up with an idea that is helping find new life for plastic waste, along with building an international company that resonates in every corner of the globe.
“I believe we all have to change our patterns of behaviors to be more mindful and more sustainable. Architects, especially for large projects, can be a bit risk averse to use some innovative material. What if something goes wrong? Understand your options, ask questions and engage to find solutions,” he said.