How We Work With Waste | Upcycled Climbing Rope & Recycled Plastic Products

At Forma Designs Collective, we take waste materials and turn them into retail-ready, durable products designed for everyday use.

We started with recycled climbing rope, working with climbing gyms and outdoor communities across the UK to intercept rope that would otherwise end up in landfill. These ropes still have strength, character, and lifespan left in them, so instead of wasting that, we transform them into belts, accessories, and functional products built to last.

This is not mass recycling. We don’t just break materials down and resell them. We focus on upcycling, which means keeping as much of the original material’s strength, structure, and story as possible, while turning it into something new.

As Forma grows, we are expanding beyond climbing rope into recycled plastics, including HDPE and polypropylene. These materials are commonly found in climbing gyms, cafés, and everyday waste streams such as bottle caps, food containers, and packaging.

Our process stays the same across every material:

• Collect waste materials locally

• Sort and prepare them for reuse

• Design products that work with the material, not against it

• Manufacture durable, high-quality items ready for retail

The goal is to build a circular system, where waste materials from a community are turned into products for that same community.

By focusing on sustainable product design, circular manufacturing, and material reuse, Forma is working to reduce landfill waste while proving that recycled materials can be used to create products that are both functional and desirable.