Commissioned by Bloomberg Philanthropy, Waste Not, Want It invites designers to create an installation within Bloomberg's European headquarters in London for use by the 2,500 employees. The designers are tasked with creating anything from lighting, to decorative wall panels, to seating and meeting areas, with one caveat; their designs should be made primarily from Bloomberg's waste.

Since the initiative began in 2010, twenty-six artists and designers have participated, ingeniously transforming waste products such as cable flex, cardboard boxes, keyboards, screens, and wood pallets into innovative and original work. The numbers involved are quite amazing. If you'll indulge me listing some numbers, check out the waste that's been made use of since 2010: 3,425 keyboards; 1,200 computer mice; 670 LCD screens; 948 wood pallets; 17,600m of cable; 1,200kg of cardboard; 646 CFC tubes; 230 router fans; 70 hard drives; and 30 security cards.

This year marks the 4th edition of Waste Not, Want It with new works by Eyal Burstein, El Ultimo Grito, Glithero, Eelko Moorer, Study O Portable, and Faye Toogood. The results are pretty impressive!

Shattered remnants of old computer screens—from jagged shards to fine glass dust—have been cast in an inky blue resin to create the intricate crystalline surfaces that are inlaid into the steel framework. Photo © Abi Campbell Photography.

Seat from El Ultimo Grito

The panels appear transparent when viewed from face on but become increasingly reflective from oblique angles. Photo © Glithero.

 

* All images © Abi Campbell Photography and courtesy of Arts Co, except last two which are © Glithero.