Spotlight: Colouring Circularity at Surface Design Show

“We colour-matched waste plastic to pastel tones - every hue here is salvaged, not sourced.” 

For the VIP Lounge at this year’s Surface Design Show, Spark & Bell was commissioned by colour expert Justine Fox to develop a series of pastel-toned lights, each carefully created to align with her chosen palette for the event.

The space was designed “to engage, exchange, and pause in a palette adapted from borrowed products, reimagined manufacturing waste, and captured consumer and construction waste inviting you to experience the 'essence of newness' through inclusive design.”

We approached the brief through the lens of circularity: to achieve soft, expressive hues using only recycled plastic. This challenge became an opportunity to expand our in-house Recycled Plastic Collection and demonstrate how waste can be transformed into refined, design-led surfaces. 

Working with waste streams including pallet wrap, coloured shopping bags and protective plastic coverings collected from local businesses, our team developed bespoke colour recipes to carefully match Fox’s palette. 

Developed by our in-house material specialist, Hannah Clare, the process involved extensive testing and refinement to balance hue, tone and saturation, using only salvaged plastics as pigment sources. Each shade was created by layering and blending recovered materials, proving that subtle, contemporary pastels can be achieved without the use of virgin resources.

“I thought that it was going to be difficult to get close, but It was very satisfying to realise the variety of colours we are able create from a few plastic bags!”

This project demonstrates how client-led creative briefs can actively drive sustainable development - transforming waste into expressive, purpose-led materials to align aesthetic outcomes with positive impact through creative collaboration. 

What's your favourite colour? 

At the time of posting, none of the experimental colours from this project are included in "Bo" Wall Light product listing.  But if you see a colour you love, please let us know!