About us - the story behind PLOYS - Reducing Plastic Waste by Upcycling of Pool Inflatables
PLOYS is a unique upcycling business of recycling pool inflatables.
PLOYS’ mission is to recycle pool inflatables into unique waterproof bags through a clever ploy of transforming pvc into unique accessories to reduce plastic waste. As a social enterprise PLOYS has a Not for Profit focus.
PLOYS is run by husband and wife team Carin and Gerhard. Carin creatives the designs, patterns and handmakes the purses and bags. As an Occupational Therapist she feels right at home in adapting and redesigning for function, while Gerhard as Systems Architect runs the IT, marketing and dispatching side of the business. PLOYS is supported by two local mums who assist with sewing of products during the busy periods..
PLOYS idea started in 2020 from having discarded pool toys and inflatables, that were either punctured or “just not played with anymore” on the side of our pool at home. "We just couldn’t throw away all this plastic, knowing that PVC is one of the worst products to decompose; taking up to a 1000 years to disintegrate". Which in turn also tells us that PVC is a strong and durable material to repurpose and very suited to upcycle into something unique and functional!
Ploys started on 9 January 2020 by transforming PVC into school stationary such as pencil cases and book bags from our own pool toys for our school aged children. These became so popular that we expanded by designing and creating larger items such as swim and beach bags. Since then the collection has grown to include a variety of unique products such as wetbags, handbags, toiletry bags and laptop bags and has even expanded into fashion, with clothing made from upcycled fabrics combined with pvc designs. Watch this space we like to say, as we continuously surprise ourselves with new creations, which each piece being created to reduce plastic waste.
PLOYS is a social enterprise and follows a not for profit model. It has become a community initiative with all of our PVC being donated by households throughout Australia either in one of our collection points or by post, and via recycling initiatives of pool inflatable businesses.
See also the info on our site about how to donate your broken PVC pool inflatables to us and become a PLOYSHERO and receive our $10 voucher!
We are proud to say that we now have a strong following of like-minded people throughout Australia, who all our passionate about sustainability and reducing waste, while seeking unique environmentally and ecologically endorsed products.
Materials we recycle include: PVC from pool inflatables, rubber boats, air mattresses, yet also broken umbrellas! Our biggest project was taking on the challenge of repurposing a Great Barrier Reef Marine Rescue Life Raft and a huge Bouncy castle! We don’t hesitate to take on a challenge! 💚♻️
PLOYS is recognised as a sustainable business and social enterprise and recommended by the Vinyl Council and an affiliated member of Global Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter ♻️
We are based in Bargara (Bundaberg) where we have our main studio and we also have a design base in Wooloongabba (Brisbane).
“PLOYS, a clever action designed to turn a situation into it’s own advantage”.