Innovations in materials technology are gaining traction in the sustainability space, where every step of the production process is now under closer scrutiny. North Carolina-based TRASHY offers an elegant response to the mounting issue of non-degradable waste by blending reclaimed styrofoam with concrete – a unique combination that repurposes a problematic material into functional design. As we continue to grapple with the sheer volume of waste our systems generate, closing even a single waste loop can have a significant impact on our planet. With its 2025 collection – including the Dune Coffee Table, Dune Side Table, Dune Dining Table, and the Wave of Change Side Table – TRASHY is doing its part to respect the planet’s limited resources through mindful material use and thoughtful production.
TRASHY’s innovative process transforms hard-to-recycle styrofoam into lightweight concrete furniture, turning a problematic material into a purposeful one. For every square foot of concrete, between 40 to 50 cubic feet of styrofoam is diverted from landfills. Developed from recycling technology born in North Carolina’s Research Triangle and informed by the region’s deep-rooted furniture-making heritage, TRASHY blends materials science with craft. Through partnerships with expert manufacturers, each piece is engineered for durability, high recycled content, and refined form.
Every design undergoes real-world testing to ensure it holds up beautifully – from coastal humidity and airborne pollen to the unpredictable chaos of daily life. The 2025 collection, inspired by the tranquil dunes of Topsail, North Carolina, speaks to both place and purpose – protecting shorelines from styrofoam waste while offering versatile pieces that work seamlessly indoors or out.
Texture is highly important here – when a product utilizes recycled materials, and falls short of being beautiful as well, it’s always such a loss. Not the case with the Dune tables, rich charcoal flecks dotting the warm gray of the concrete, slight pockets catching delicate points of bright afternoon sun. The wide, organic shapes cut an elegant outline here, celebrating the tactility of the innovative material.
Utilizing a polished finish for the tabletops is clever here, allowing for easier cleaning and polishing in the future. The relatively gritty base of exposed aggregate juxtaposed with the nicely polished, more refined top layer creates an interesting dichotomy, working within the limits of materiality to create something refined and unique.
The Dune tables also come in a smooth finish for those preferring less texture.
The Wave of Change Table continues the sustainability, turning waste into functional beauty. Its tabletop is made using TRASHY’s proprietary styrofoam recycling process, while its legs are crafted from Urban Wood – salvaged from naturally fallen trees in North Carolina.
TRASHY is closing loops on waste streams, hearkening back to a childhood pondering about the sustainability of Styrofoam. “If it takes thousands of years to degrade,” founder Laura Olson thought, “why does it exist?” Thus, TRASHY was born, offering sustainable, lightweight, and beautifully considered products, cleverly designed for disassembly and repair in the process. All pieces are made to order, cutting down on waste, labor, and storage.
To learn more about the 2025 collection from TRASHY, visit trashy-co.com.
Photography courtesy of TRASHY.