Approximately 300-500 startups are created in the Czech Republic every year. Statistics show that only 10% of them achieve success and develop into a profitable and profitable business. At Impact Hub, we strive to support every new startup that applies to our acceleration programs. We are happy to watch individual projects grow and succeed. Such projects include the startup Plasticwho has previously gone through our acceleration program ClimAcceleratorSince then, the project has developed into a startup that still has a lot to offer.
Who is Plastenco? A startup that turns waste into art
Plastenco is a product eco-design studio that helps companies and institutions transform local waste into designer plastic products through innovative 3D printing. Their focus is to inspire people to improve the world by remelting recycled plastic into new, functional products. At the same time, they support the idea of a circular economy, thereby trying to put as little strain on our planet as possible. The founders are Kateřina Nováková and Jitka Hvězdová.
Plastenca products are not only functional, but also beautiful. This is due to their collaboration with designers and architects who design the appearance of the products. With their work, they spread the idea of sustainable art and connect artists and enthusiasts. At the same time, they create a community that thinks about artwork in a sustainable and functional way. On their website, you can choose earrings, cookie cutters, 3D ornaments, vases, chandeliers, and you can even have a custom-made product created.
Pla(s)teosaurus: The largest Czech sculpture made of recycled materials warns of the climate crisis
Plastenc's success is demonstrated by the realization of their largest sculpture created by community printing in the Czech Republic, the so-called Pla(s)teosaurus, and the organization of an eco-design challenge for product designers and architects called Reborn Design. The statue is exhibited at the National Museum and aims to spread awareness about climate change - it refers to the fate of dinosaurs and draws attention to the aforementioned global problem. The statue was made of Czech plastic fiber (200 kg), which comes from Czech recycled plastic waste, and 100 kg of recycled concrete and glass.
Plastenca news from participation in the acceleration program
Together with the technology company Lavaris, they founded a challenge Reborn Design, which focuses on supporting young designers. 2024 competition projects from product designers and architects from the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University and Mendel University in Brno competed for the eco-design awards in 69. Foreign students from the Erasmus program from England, Hungary and Poland also participated.
The year 2024 was marked by innovation and research activities for the studio. They launched a project to develop technology for large-format 3D printing from recycled plastics, co-financed by TAČR, which also includes the design of a new portfolio respecting the principles of circularity. One of the samples from the collection for 2024-2025 is a lectern made of clear plastic by designer Ondřej Ciganík and Daniel Sviták from UMPRUM. The lectern will decorate a number of ESG events in the fall of 2024. The research project partners are Lavaris and the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Among their products you will also find chandeliers, which are now on display at the Maximilián Hotel at Loučeň Castle. They placed 15 chandeliers in the castle restaurant and foyer with two new designs inspired by fractal structure and organic relief. They collaborated on the design of the chandeliers with designers Vojtěch Vydržel, Pavel Sýs and Šimon Prokop.
How to gain more skills and connect with creatives
The beginnings of Plastenca stem from the strong desire of both founders to create beauty and bring art to the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that in recent years they have joined the program CreateUp, which is focused on developing entrepreneurial and business skills for creatives, makers and artists.
As part of the program this November, we are organizing Create and do business conference, which will take place in Brno and focus on issues in the field of education of creative industries in entrepreneurship, and will also present an e-learning platform that we have developed together with 5 other foreign partners. If you want to gain more skills in this area or connect with other creatives, then register at conference, we still have vacancies.
Are you interested in what other great ideas are being developed with the support of our acceleration and other programs? Watch LinkedIn
