CARNABY STREET TO HOST FIRST PLASTIC RECYCLING RETAIL EXPERIMENT ARE YOU MAD

Carnaby announces Are You Mad - the first visible recycling unit on Carnaby Street. The space exists as both a plastic sorting facility and a retail store. They collect plastic waste from local businesses, shoppers and their growing community, which is then sorted, shredded, and turned into new objects, including the build of the shop itself.

The unit is located at the lower end of Carnaby Street, at 56B. They will open officially as a store in September, although have been functioning for the past month as a collection unit: in just 40 days they have diverted 1 tonne of plastic from going to landfills.

Beyond existing as a store, Are You Mad will also be open as a workshop space where customers can bring in their own rubbish, learn about plastic and have the experience to turn their own trash into something creative.

The aim of the project is to Make A Difference (MAD), by creating an experiment in circularity. Are You Mad start by collecting the plastic → then cleaning → next up is shredding → followed by weighing and logging → and finally the fun part, getting creative.

They have been collecting three different types of plastic: (02) HDPE, (05) PP, and (06) PS which they have found through broken hangers, milk bottles, bottle caps, and food crates. These single use items have now found a second life as creative objects.

Retail brands in Carnaby that have signed up to support Are You Mad include; The North Face, Annie’s Ibiza, Ganni, Swatch, and G-Shock. As well as food & beverage brands; Soho Grind and Le Bab.

Items can be created as one-off custom products, including coasters, hair combs, incense holders and fruit bowls. Prices start at 50p and range up to £15,000 with over 100 different products available.

Are You Mad are a non-profit organisation who have partnered with GROW, a charity that works with schools and communities delivering bespoke programmes in sustainable food growing and outdoor learning. Are You Mad will be taking charitable donations for this project in store in exchange for retail products.

For more information on Are You Mad and how to contribute follow @CarnabyLondon and visit Carnaby.co.uk.

For further information and images please contact Meghan Ryan or Chloe Pitman at Sister London [email protected] / [email protected] / 020 7287 9601

Are You Mad is located at 19/21 Foubert’s Place as at 1 November 2022.

Notes to editors:

Are You Mad

Are You Mad are a non profit organisation. The brand attempts to change the narrative on what a recycling facility could look like. Are you Mad employ students to collect certain types of waste from brands, businesses, residents and visitors in the Carnaby area where they then turn these plastics into new usable materials.

Follow @areyoumad.co and visit areyoumad.co for more information on the project.

About Carnaby:

Carnaby is in the heart of London’s West End, where over 100 retail brands of quality and distinction and over 60 independent restaurants, cafes and bars can be found across 14 streets, including the world famous Carnaby Street. Carnaby is a unique and iconic experiential shopping, dining and leisure destination.

Follow @CarnabyLondon and visit Carnaby.co.uk for full updates, news and information.

Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury owns and manages a 16 acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London's West End. The portfolio comprises of restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, extending to apartments and offices in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, together with substantial ownerships in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.

All our properties are close to the main West End Underground stations, and within ten minutes’ walk of the two West End transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line, at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street.

@shaftesburyplc shaftesbury.co.uk