FAQ
Introduction
We love our oceans. That‘s why we transform unwanted fishing nets into premium tiles that can be enjoyed for generations. We believe you shouldn‘t have to compromise when designing your next sustainable project. Coldharbour Tiles allows you to join the fight against plastic pollution, while celebrating performance, quality and beauty. Let’s create a healthier planet, one tile at a time!
Made for Interior Designers.
Made for Architects.
Made for Our Blue Planet.
Q&A
How did Coldharbour’s journey begin?
When I first learned about the scale of the plastic pollution crisis, I felt overwhelmed, debilitated. What can one person possibly do to make a difference? Perhaps you’ve felt this way as well? Studies have shown that microplastics are now found in everything from table salt to breastmilk to snowfall. This invisible pollutant will no doubt have an impact on the health of generations to come - we were never meant to consume plastic after all. However, the average human being unknowingly consumes a credit card worth of plastic every week.
I was based in Rwanda, working as a video journalist at the time, when I learned about the plastic pollution problem up close. Many countries in Africa where I was traveling didn’t have recycling infrastructure, so plastic waste simply couldn’t be ignored or forgotten - as it’s so easy to do in Europe or the US (where I’m from). If only 9% of all plastic ever produced has actually been recycled, then we all have a lot of work to do! Even if you can’t see it.
I decided to roll up my sleeves and become part of the solution. I began cutting up shampoo bottles at home and melting them down in my kitchen oven to create the first tiles. Fast-forward five years of research, testing, prototypes, pivots, and a lot of patience….Coldharbour Tiles was born and launched. I want everyone to feel empowered to make a difference. By choosing Coldharbour Tiles, you can join the fight against plastic pollution while making interior spaces even more beautiful!
Why are tiles the best way to upcycle plastic?
I have some bad news: used plastic is not an easy material to recycle. The numbers on the bottom of your water bottle or plastic toys are helpful in grouping plastics together, but the simplicity of this labeling is deceiving. There are different grades of plastic with different additives mixed in for various purposes. This means that they can melt at different temperatures and can behave differently when being molded. This is part of the reason why so little plastic is up-cycled into new products - it’s difficult and it’s expensive.
Ironically, plastic originated out of concerns for wildlife preservation. In 1862 Alexander Parkes patented the first manufactured plastic called Parkesine, which was meant to become a cheap substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell. With elephants and tortoises on the brink of extinction - as ivory and shell were then used for many high end products like piano keys and hair combs - this was a much welcome invention. Little did they know this once valuable material would become a cheap, throwaway option for products often only used for a few minutes.
I thought long and hard before choosing what product I wanted to create from recycled plastic. We know that plastic can leach into drinks or meals, especially when hot, so anything related to consumption wasn’t a good option. Researchers recently found that on average, one liter of bottled water has 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic inside, so just imagine microwaving your dinner in a plastic container! I also don’t believe plastic should be used for clothing. We know that washing synthetic materials will release “invisible to the eye” plastic particles into our waterways. Depending on the type of garments being washed, studies have shown that a single load of laundry can release up to 1.5 million synthetic microfibers into the water system.
Creating tiles felt like the best way to upcycle plastic because they can “lock away” large amounts of plastic waste in a form that won’t be in contact with our food and drinks, and won’t be repeatedly washed at high temperatures.
The more tiles we make, the more plastic is taken out of the environment! And if made correctly, can be enjoyed for generations.
Why are you using recycled plastic?
We believe it is no longer acceptable to continue polluting the planet with newly produced plastics. Our mission is to recycle some of the millions of tons of plastic that already exist - sustainability is at the heart of our brand. We are proud and inspired that such a large international community of individuals are demanding environmentally-friendly products like ours. You are paying for beautiful tiles, but also for a massive clean-up of plastic waste.
What is the story behind the Coldharbour name?
I was living in Brixton, an eclectic neighborhood in South London, when my first son, Archie, was born. Bringing Archie back to our lovely, little flat on Coldharbour Lane changed everything. There is a Native American saying “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Once I began looking at the world through this lens, I wanted to do more. Coldharbour is all about thinking about the future. How do our actions today affect the lives of future generations?
There is so much plastic waste to recycle. Why did you choose fishing nets?
Growing up in Southern California, the ocean has always been a special place for me. There is no better feeling than looking out at a blue horizon with sand between your toes, listening to the peaceful soundtrack of crashing waves. It’s the feeling of home.
That’s why, there’s nothing more upsetting than seeing our oceans trashed with fishing gear. Somewhere up to 1M tons of fishing nets are abandoned in the oceans every year, responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of marine animals. We’ve all seen the devastating photos of seals and turtles being strangled by ghost nets. By harming these animals we are also harming ourselves by further accelerating climate breakdown. Whales for example can capture about 33 tons of carbon dioxide over their lifespan. In comparison, an oak tree - one of the most efficient carbon-capturing tree species, captures only 12 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifespan.
At Coldharbour, we upcycle used and damaged fishing nets - repurposing them into tiles - so that they are never sent to landfill or dumped into the ocean, becoming ghost nets.
Sources:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/whales-and-carbon-sequestration-can-whales-store-carbon#:~:text=One%20whale%20can%20capture%20an,a%20maximum%20500%2Dyear%20lifespan.
Production
How do you make your material?
When I first started developing this material, I made a promise to myself that I would never contribute to the problem I was trying to solve. As recycled plastic is an incredibly difficult material to work with, many products that claim to be recycled are actually a combination of both recycled and virgin (or new) plastic. Unfortunately, adding virgin plastic makes manufacturing both easier and cheaper. Despite this inconvenient truth, I stayed true to my mission. Our material uses no virgin plastic, only recycled plastic. The total formulation is 52% recycled plastic. The remaining percentage is a combination of natural ingredients such as clays and minerals in order to meet safety and performance standards.
Where do the fishing nets come from?
Used and damaged fishing nets are sourced primarily from the Baltic Sea region.
Can the tiles be used in both dry and wet environments?
Yes they can. They are completely water-resistant and can be used in areas such as showers, bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes.
What is the surface of the tiles like?
One side is very smooth and the other is slightly rough to help with adhesion. Please get in touch with us at info@coldharbourtiles.com to request a sample tile pack or for any other queries! We look forward to hearing from you!
Quality and Standards
Coldharbour’s high quality tiles are designed and manufactured in Germany and shipped worldwide. Our products are manufactured in accordance with industry tile standards and can be enjoyed in both residential and commercial interior spaces. A declaration of performance containing information and test results concerning the tiles’ key properties has been issued by TUV, and is available on the Coldharbour website.