Two UK plastics companies are creating a stir after teaming up to help manufacture spiralling solar-powered sculptures made from recycled fishing nets. Working with artist Tom Lawton, masterbatch producer Silvergate Plastics (Wrexham; www.silvergate.co.uk) and injection moulder Plastic-IT (Shrewsbury; www.plastic-it.co.uk) developed the tools and materials needed to produce the work, which is titled “Uplift 2.0”. A portion of the sales of the table-top sculptures are going to UK mental health charity Sea Sanctuary (Penryn; www.seasanctuary.org.uk).

Lawton, whose company Uplifting Products (Malmesbury / UK; www.beuplifted.co.uk) sells the works, said the sculpture “creates a mesmerising, never-ending spiral that inspires you to unwind, as it gracefully turns the sun’s power into a hypnotic flowing motion.” During the initial research stage of the project, Uplifting Products saw potential in semi-translucent waste fishing nets found washed up on the beaches of the south coast of England. However, to reduce the product’s environmental footprint, the plastic nets were sourced from Hake Fisheries in Cornwall, saving them from landfill.