We live in the age of the Anthropocene: human activity is the dominant force affecting the climate and man-made and organic materials are becoming irreversibly intertwined. As natural resources dwindle, designers are exploring the potential of increasingly plentiful waste streams to become the raw materials of the future.

A new book celebrates 30 optimistic and enterprising designers, makers and manufacturers who use waste as their primary resource, offering a rare glimpse into the world they inhabit. Accompanying these profiles, six in-depth and thematic essays will explore the societal, cultural and environmental implications of their work.