Spinning Change: How Polyfloss Turns Plastic Waste into a Force for Good
When we first heard about a machine that recycles plastic using the principles of a cotton candy spinner, we had to know more. The team behind the Mini Polyfloss has turned a playful idea into a powerful local recycling tool—one that’s already making real impact in humanitarian zones, schools, and creative studios around the world. We sat down with the creators to talk about community-driven innovation, transforming waste into opportunity, and how a small machine might spark a global movement.
From Candy Floss to Circular Economy
The Mini Polyfloss transforms plastic waste using a cotton candy-inspired process. How did this unique idea come about, and what makes it especially effective for local recycling?
The idea for Polyfloss emerged in 2011, during our time in the Innovation Design Engineering program at Imperial College and the Royal College of Art in London, where Emile De Visscher, Audrey Gaulard, Christophe Machet and Nick Paget, the original co-founder met.
The inspiration? Candyfloss. We built the first prototype for our degree show, and the project quickly took off, garnering attention from the press and the design community.
The Mini Polyfloss Machine was developed with this challenge in mind. Compact, versatile, and designed for local use, it transforms plastic waste into soft, usable fiber — turning a global problem into a creative local solution. By enabling small-scale recycling directly within communities, Polyfloss supports circular economies and empowers people to rethink waste as a resource.
Empowering Makers and Communities
You’ve designed the Mini Polyfloss machine for educators, designers, and recyclers alike. What kinds of creative or practical applications have surprised you the most?
The Polyfloss process melts plastic and spins it into fiber—much like cotton candy. But this transformation is far more than visual appeal; it unlocks a completely new material language for plastic waste.
What’s surprised and excited us most is the sheer versatility of this fiber. Unlike recycled plastic bricks or panels, which often compete with traditional materials like wood or metal, Polyfloss fiber plays to plastic’s unique strengths: it’s lightweight, flexible, and easily reshaped.
We’ve seen it pressed into insulation panels, ironed into bendable sheets, even spun or woven into sculptural and textile-like forms. It invites low-tech, hands-on experimentation—accessible to educators, designers, and recyclers of all backgrounds.
What thrills us most is the creative freedom it offers. It’s a new way of working with waste, using familiar tools and techniques in completely new contexts. And honestly, we can’t wait to see the innovations the community will bring to life next!
Small Scale, Big Impact
The Mini Polyfloss Machine has already proven useful in humanitarian contexts. Can you share a story or example where the machine made a real difference in the field?
Since 2019, we’ve been working closely with NGOs to bring practical recycling solutions to humanitarian settings—places where waste management is a challenge and the need for resources is urgent. One of the most impactful early deployments was in Gaziantep, at the Syrian border. There, we installed a pilot machine that recycled over one ton of plastic in just four weeks, producing insulation for refurbished homes for displaced families. It was a powerful moment—seeing the idea of Polyfloss truly come to life where it mattered most.
Since then, our work has expanded across France, Norway, and Nepal. In rural Nepal, we’re partnering with World Vision International Nepal – Innovation Lab and Digo Bikash Samaj to install a new Polyfloss machine in Bhajani, Kailali. Through the PIPER project, funded by World Vision Singapore, we’ve already insulated 12 classrooms and created local jobs. The new machine will allow us to insulate 24 more classrooms and expand community engagement around plastic pollution and recycling, including through local cooperatives.
Looking ahead, we’re preparing to bring the large Polyfloss machine to South Sudan, where we’ll help the United Nations build its first recycling center within a peacekeeping military camp. It’s a testament to how small-scale, adaptable solutions like ours can make a real difference—turning plastic waste into opportunity, resilience, and impact in the most challenging environments.
Local Waste, Local Solutions
Your mission centers on creating local economies from plastic waste. How do you envision communities adopting the Mini to meet their specific needs?
We envision the Mini Polyfloss machine as a powerful catalyst for creativity and community empowerment. Regardless of skill level, it enables individuals to transform plastic waste into valuable new materials, unlocking innovative and often unexpected possibilities. More than just a tool, the Mini Polygloss fosters a sense of ownership over local waste management, empowering communities to address challenges that may otherwise be overlooked by larger systems.
By turning waste into a usable raw material, the Mini Polyfloss machine opens the door to new livelihood opportunities and micro-enterprises tailored to local needs. It supports the development of hyperlocal, circular economies—designed by and for the community—without dependence on external or corporate interventions. This grassroots approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also builds resilience and economic independence from the ground up.
A Global Movement Begins
With this Kickstarter, you’re taking Polyfloss worldwide. What’s your message to early backers—and how can they help bring sustainable, creative recycling to more places?
To our early backers—first and foremost, thank you for your trust and belief in our mission! Your support is helping us take a big step toward making sustainable, creative recycling accessible around the world.
By backing this project, you’re giving makers everywhere the power to tackle plastic waste in their own communities, using their skills to turn discarded materials into something meaningful. The Mini Polyfloss machine isn’t just a recycling tool—it’s a launchpad for innovation, craftsmanship, and local impact.
We’re incredibly excited to see the unique and inspiring ways you’ll use the machine. Together, we’re building a global movement—one creative project, one community, one recycled fiber at a time.
Thank you to the Polyfloss team for sharing the journey behind this inspiring project. With its blend of clever design, grassroots empowerment, and tangible results, the Mini is more than a recycling machine—it’s a tool for change, spun from creativity and care.
Polyfloss – Recycling plastic like cotton-candy
The Polyfloss Factory
The Polyfloss team first came together at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, where they created their first prototype in 2012. Since then, they’ve developed the Polyfloss technology into a practical, human-scale solution for plastic recycling. Their work spans education, design, and humanitarian aid—turning discarded plastic into useful, inspiring materials across the globe.
Discover PolyFloss Now on Kickstarter
