At the Zero Waste Multicentre in Brzeg Dolny, participants took part in a two-session upcycling workshop dedicated to designing and making unique poufs entirely from production leftovers. The workshops combined woodworking and sewing skills, demonstrating how materials that would normally be considered waste can be transformed into functional and attractive furniture.
During the first session, participants, supported by a woodworking instructor, built sturdy wooden frames for their poufs. Thanks to the group’s enthusiasm and previous DIY experience, the construction work progressed quickly and efficiently, providing a solid foundation for the next stage of the project.
The second workshop brought together both a woodworking instructor and a sewing instructor, who guided participants through upholstering and finishing their creations. By combining carpentry and textile techniques, the group completed a series of distinctive poufs, each with its own individual character.
What makes these pieces truly special is that they were created entirely from post-production surplus materials. Upholstery foam offcuts, leftover upholstery fabrics, wooden components, and furniture legs that had been rejected for commercial production due to minor imperfections—such as scratches, chipped surfaces, or slight colour variations—were all given a new life instead of becoming waste.
The workshop series perfectly illustrates the principles promoted by the NiCE project: extending the life cycle of materials, reducing waste, and encouraging creative circular solutions. It also showed that sustainable design does not require new resources—only imagination, practical skills, and a willingness to see value where others see waste. Given the participants’ enthusiasm and the impressive results, the Zero Waste Multicentre is already considering repeating the workshops after the summer holidays.