A Collaboration Between MTRL Library, Hanex UK & SMILE Materials
At MTRL Library, we’re proud to introduce Recycled Solid Surface — an innovative, UK-made material developed through a collaboration between Hanex UK, MTRL Library and SMILE Materials. Born from the shared commitment to sustainability and circular design, this new range gives solid surface waste a second life — transforming offcuts and fabrication remnants into high-quality, design-ready recycled sheets.
This partnership brings together three leaders in sustainable material innovation:
Together, we’ve created a truly circular system: waste from the solid surface industry is collected, processed, and re-engineered into durable new sheets — ready for use in furniture, interior architecture, and design applications.
Hanex Solid Surfaces is designed for longevity and reuse. In partnership with Hanex UK Limited, offcuts and end-of-life materials are being integrated into recycling initiatives — including collaborations with UK-based recyclers such as SMILE Plastics. This commitment helps reduce waste and close the loop within the solid surface industry.
By specifying Hanex via MTRL Library, designers are choosing a durable, repairable, and recyclable surface that supports a responsible, circular design future.
Recycled Solid Surface combines the performance you expect from solid surface materials — non-porous, repairable, easy to fabricate — with a unique recycled aesthetic that celebrates its origins. Each sheet is pressed and finished to meet high design and fabrication standards, suitable for use in:
Core aesthetics include White, Grey, and Black — but anything is possible. Simply choose any RAL colour, and you can have your own made-to-order solid surface shade, an industry first, delivered in just 4–6 weeks.
By specifying Recycled Solid Surface, you contribute directly to reducing industry waste and supporting local closed-loop production.
As the distribution and resource partner, MTRL Library provides:
Sample and swatch access for design evaluation
Technical data sheets and sustainability credentials
Guidance on specification and fabrication
Support for recycling participation — enabling fabricators and specifiers to return offcuts for reprocessing (link to sign up form)
Recycled Solid Surface is part of the Smile Minerals family — a range of UK-made, design-led recycled materials by SMILE Materials, curated and distributed through MTRL Library.
Each material in the range celebrates circular production and local craft, offering designers a palette of sustainable surfaces with distinctive character.
Recycled surfaces can be made from a wide range of waste materials, including post-consumer plastic, production offcuts, recycled textiles, paper-based fibres and other recovered materials. We offer a variety of recycled surface options, helping designers, architects and makers choose materials with a lower environmental impact.
Recycled surfaces can be used across many interior applications, including wall cladding, countertops, retail displays, furniture, shelving, acoustic features, exhibition stands and bespoke joinery. They are a strong choice for commercial, hospitality, retail and workplace projects where both sustainability and design impact matter.
Yes, many recycled surfaces are designed to be durable enough for commercial interior use. Depending on the specific material, they can offer strong performance for furniture, fixtures, wall panels and work surfaces. When choosing recycled surfaces, it is important to consider the intended application, finish, thickness and maintenance requirements.
Recycled surfaces help reduce waste, limit the use of virgin materials and support more sustainable design choices. They also offer unique textures, colours and patterns that can make interiors feel more distinctive. For architects and designers, recycled surfaces are a practical way to combine environmental responsibility with creative material specification.
Yes, recycled surfaces can often be used as an alternative to traditional materials such as laminate, acrylic, timber-based boards or standard decorative panels. They are particularly useful for projects that need a more sustainable material story, while still delivering a high-quality finish for furniture, displays, wall features and interior surfaces.
