While waiting for your dish, let your hands rest on the table. Feel its texture, take in the earthy tones, feathery whites, and bold flashes of orange and black. This isn’t just a tabletop—it’s a statement, crafted by MELTDISTRICT, a Chiang Mai-based studio that transforms recycled plastic containers into art, furniture, and gifts.
Every day, MELTDISTRICT receives 6 tons of plastic waste collected by the local communities: shampoo bottles, detergent containers or bottle caps. Once sorted, washed, dried, and ground by colour, they are melted into vibrant sheets. Each sheet saves 9 kilos of plastic waste from ending up in the landfill.
What you see in front of you is the result of a couple of experiments to capture the vision of chef Yoan.
Photo by Urban Creature
“We have to MELT because the world is MELTING”
Salila Chattrakulchai, K.Bo, and Kwanchiwa Phongsimpakorn, K. Fah.
Tell me the color of your waste, and I will tell you who you are
Initially he had in mind a shade of olive beige. But the studio must compose with available colours. The local waste stream determines the palette, and custom orders can’t always be perfectly matched. Want a red tabletop? You might wait a while—red plastic containers are rare.
Still, with mix and blend, MELTDISTRICT creates one-of-a-kind patterns that mirror the uniqueness of the region’s waste. Each sheet, drawing inspiration from the shades of cities like Tokyo or New York, echoes the natural tones of recycled materials. Without a drop of new dye, they achieve stunning hues that reflect the vibrancy of urban landscapes.
Salila Chattrakulchai, K.Bo, and Kwanchiwa Phongsimpakorn, K. Fah, the founders, set out to turn plastic waste into something that could reshape the way we think about waste.
Their dedication to sustainability doesn’t stop at creating stunning products. MELTDISTRICT is a hub for education and community. K. Bo, a passionate advocate for waste reduction, runs workshops for kids, teaching them to sort waste, reuse zip-lock bags, and embrace long-term sustainability. These workshops are set to return next year to inspire a new generation to see waste differently.
The mission is simple yet transformative: waste doesn’t have to be wasted. Recycled materials can be as beautiful and functional as new ones. K. Bo and K. Fah dream of a world where plastic sheets are as commonplace as wood or acrylic, where recycling isn’t just a practice but a norm.
MELTDISTRICT is turning discarded plastic into a future of possibilities—one vibrant sheet at a time. Every table they create is more than a surface; it’s a story of creativity, sustainability, and the power of circular design.
