IE School of Architecture and Design & Gravity Wave: using design to raise awareness of maritime plastic pollution
Eli Gutiérrez, Pablo Alabau, Miguel Leiro and Héctor Serrano, students of IE School of Architecture and Design, have designed a collection of 22 products with Gravity Wave plastic panels produced from discarded fishing nets. The main goal of this project is to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the sea and its connection to the ongoing climate crisis.
Working with Gravity Wave, the students explored the properties of plastic panels produced from fishing nets, and developed products that highlight the beauty of sustainable design and the importance of protecting our marine ecosystems. This hands-on project, part of the Design Studio II course, underscored the value of learning through experimentation, with students engaging in every stage of the design process, from ideation to final product communication. Real-world feedback from Gravity Wave enriched the collaboration and bridged the gap between academia and industry.
"Together, we are proud to contribute to a circular economy, transforming the plastic waste in our seas into valuable, durable products that raise social awareness and promote sustainability. We would like to give a special thanks to Vicente Varella, from Gravity Wave, for taking part in the project".
IE School of Architecture and Design professors who led this initiative
According to Vicente Varella, Product Manager at Gravity Wave: "Collaborating with the IE School of Architecture and Design students has provided us with a panoramic view of the possibilities offered by Gravitec panels. The result has been 22 projects where panels made from recovered fishing nets from seas and ports have been chosen to design various objects, ranging from lighting to furniture, and even including fashion and toys. Each design demonstrates that by selecting materials wisely, sustainable products can be manufactured without compromising their sustainability. It's inspiring to see so many young people committed and to observe how this material can be a solution when applied in various ways in the furniture and decoration industry."
Gravity Wave is a global organization with the mission of achieving plastic-free oceans. To accomplish this, they focus on collecting fishing nets from the seas and ports and transforming them into sustainable materials, such as plastic panels known as Gravitec. These panels are manufactured from nets that have been discarded, abandoned, or lost, giving them a second chance at utility. Gravity Wave's primary objective is to prevent waste like fishing nets from continuing to pollute the waters, and to do so, they reinvent their lifecycle by reintroducing them into the circular economy. Each panel made with recovered plastic represents progress in reducing ocean pollution. The colors, patterns, and sustainable practices incorporated into these panels play an essential role in protecting our marine ecosystems by reducing plastic pollution and decreasing our reliance on new plastic. The colors, patterns, and sustainability integrated into these panels play a fundamental role in protecting our marine ecosystems by reducing plastic pollution and decreasing our reliance on new plastic.
About Gravity Wave
Between 19 and 21 million tons of plastic waste end up annually in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing a devastating and irreversible impact on the environment, marine life, and humans. Nearly half of this plastic in the sea comes from ghost nets, known for their durability (over 1,000 years) and their lethal impact on various marine species. Gravity Wave is dedicated to recovering plastics from the sea and maritime ports, preventing new plastic waste and fishing nets from further contaminating the ocean. With a circular economy approach, they transform these materials into furniture and products with an extended useful life, establishing themselves as the leading Spanish company in plastic collection from the Mediterranean, Cantabrian, and Atlantic seas and ports.
About IE School of Architecture and Design
IE School of Architecture and Design is one of the five schools that comprise the international and innovative IE University, based in Spain, with campuses in Madrid and Segovia. IE School of Architecture and Design is dedicated to creative pursuits in all their forms. We’re a place where innovative design education, creativity, entrepreneurship and community come together to do, not just to think about doing. More than that, we believe in the power of human creativity and collaboration to shape a more sustainable, more just and more beautiful world for all.
