In With The Recycled: Potato Head Launches Homeware Made From Waste
Do you ever think about what happens to a hotel's frayed bed linens or broken glass? At any other property, it will probably be thrown away and forgotten, but not at Desa Potato Head. The pioneering Indonesian hospitality brand, which is ranked 21st in the World's 50 Best Hotels list, likes doing things differently.
It all began with the standout Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak, Bali, whose striking facade constructed with 6,600 reclaimed teak shutters made headlines when it opened in 2010. Fifteen years later, it has evolved to become an all-encompassing creative and cultural destination called Desa Potato Head—a place where guests can eat, drink, lounge, play, sleep and get inspired.
Like the repurposed wood that became its visual signature, the brand's new initiative, Wasted, follows in the same vein. It aligns with Potato Head's philosophy 'Good Times, Do Good', aiming to be groundbreaking in design as well as sustainable impact.
Photography: All is Amazing, Paulius Staniunas @allisamazing; Courtesy of Desa Potato Head Bali
'Living in Bali, we couldn't ignore what was happening around us. The issue became very real when plastic waste started washing up on our doorstep—quite literally—on the beach outside in huge amounts,' says Dan Mitchell, Chief Creative Officer at Desa Potato Head. 'It reached a point where doing nothing wasn't an option. We wanted to try and make a change. We made a decision to look inward and start with our own operations. We asked: what if we could turn our waste into a resource?'
The answer to that question is seen in different ways today—from the in-room zero-waste amenity kit to the company's drastic reduction of food waste. Over the past years, they have successfuly overhauled operations to become more sustainable, and even regenerative.
According to a recent audit by EcoMantra, the hotel has achieved 0.5 landfill waste (a near zero waste status); their Community Waste Project has also expanded its environmental impact island-wide.
Photography: Adrian Morris; Courtesy of Desa Potato Head
It's latest feat: turning waste into something desirable with Wasted by Potato Head's first-ever homeware collection. A collaboration with British designer Max Lamb, Collection 001 is proof that reducing, reusing and recycling can be chicer than ever. 'At the end of the day, waste is without any perceived value or purpose. If you shift the perspective, waste can be seen as a very valuable material,' says Mitchell.
Here's what you need to know about Potato Head x Max Lamb's Wasted Collection 001. The project was five years in the making
This debut collection came off the back of a five-year collaboration between Potato Head and designer Max Lamb. 'We actually meant to launch this back in 2020, but then the world shut down because of the Covid pandemic. In hindsight, that time allowed the project to breathe and evolve,' says Mitchell.
Photography: Adrian Morris; Courtesy of Desa Potato Head Bali
'Working with waste is not quick or easy, especially when you're innovating new recycling techniques, or trying to scale processes in a way that's of high quality and still rooted in craft. One thing that surprised us all was just how long it takes to build a new system from the ground up. There's no playbook when working with new waste streams,' he adds.
Mitchell highlights the difficulty in actually finding a good formulation to mix broken glass into something usable or turning plastic waste into high-quality, precise flatpack chairs. 'Overcoming these challenges and finding a way—that's been the most rewarding part.' Yes, all of the items are made from waste
As the name says, every single item in the collection is made from waste largely informed by what they see and experience first-hand. 'Plastic was the most visible, but there were also bedsheets, broken glass, food waste, coconut shells… all from our daily operations,' emphasizes Mitchell.
Photography: Adrian Morris; Courtesy of Desa Potato Head Bali
They settled on eight material families including recycled HDPE plastic, composite waste materials like Styrofoam and oystershells, old and retired hotel linens made into fabric, broken glass made into new vessels through mouth-blown techniques and more. 'The goal was to show that what is discarded can be transformed into something useful, and beautiful, if approached with intention.' The entire collection was designed by Max Lamb and handmade in Bali
British designer Max Lamb worked closely with Potato Head to determine what the hotel—and global consumers—need. 'Max approached it with incredible focus. Together, we looked at what we really needed to support our way of living, and the needs of our operation at Potato Head such as furniture for rooms, glass for bars and so on. It became a very grounded design exercise,' says Mitchell.
Photography: Adrian Morris; Courtesy of Desa Potato Head Bali
Another layer that makes the collection special is the human touch of local Bali craftspeople ranging from weavers, glass blowers, ceramicists and more. While the product range is fixed, no two pieces are exactly alike.
'It wasn't a top-down design process; it was a creative exchange,' says Mitchell. 'Max brought his design vision and material knowledge, and the local community brought deep craft knowledge and highly skilled technique. That dialogue helped shape the final collection.'
Wasted by Potato Head x Max Lamb Collection 001, is available online and in person at Desa Potato Head Bali. The debut homeware range will be stocked at select stores globally such as Beams (Japan), Salvo (Hong Kong) and Haven (Belgium) on August 15. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Artist JR Uses Trains As His Canvas —See Inside His Latest Masterpiece By Kissa Castaneda Forbes 3 Beautiful Books To Put You In A Summer Mood By Kissa Castaneda Forbes Hotel Il Pellicano Marks 60th Birthday With Highsnobiety Collaboration By Kissa Castaneda Forbes Wellness Design Is Booming—Rakxa In Bangkok Shows How To Bring It Home By Kissa Castaneda Forbes Can Whisky Foster Creativity? The Dalmore Luminary Series Says Yes By Kissa Castaneda
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