Elevating design through sustainability, Trashy transforms recycled Styrofoam into innovative concrete products. We empower designers to create eco-conscious spaces with lightweight, premium materials that push the boundaries of responsible design.
Who's behind trashy ?
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Laura Olson
FOUNDER & CEO
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Bradley Baker
RECYCLING PARTNER AND INNOVATOR
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Liz Tracy
COO & SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
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Peter Bustin
ADVISOR AND MANUFACTURING PARTNER
our story
As kids, we wondered why Styrofoam existed when it took thousands of years to decompose. As adults, we decided to act.
Laura, studying Industrial Design at NCSU, discovered most furniture gets crushed and sent to landfills. A dump patron connected her to Bradley, who was recycling Styrofoam into concrete furniture. Their collaboration began.
Research led to Pete, creator of Meldstone, who had made concrete pieces for major retailers using recycled materials. His expertise in recycled concrete merged with Laura's sustainable furniture focus.
Liz joined to enhance sustainability and business perspectives. With her PhD in Organizational Psychology and B-Corp certification experience, she teaches entrepreneurship at NCSU.
Trashy’s approach to circular design
Design for durability and longevity
Use renewable and non-toxic materials
Minimize waste through efficient resource use
Design for disassembly and repair
Prioritize modularity and adaptability
Consider the entire lifecycle impact
Create value from waste streams
