Upcycle and Reuse: Sustainable Pop-Up Retail Environments

Pop-up shops are interactive, quick retail spaces that excel in building personal consumer connections and setting powerful communication platforms. Incorporating sustainability into these shops makes them exceptionally unique and resource-conscious. The list below features a creative mix of upcycled pop-up furniture, opportunities for reuse after their initial purpose is fulfilled, structures made from recycled materials, and upcycling technology within the pop-ups. These sustainable creations are designed to reduce waste and value resources, showcasing innovation in temporary retail environments.

MOMO POP-UP STORE

Recycled Windows Pop-Up Structure

Design architect Andy Tong from Hong Kong has created a unique pop-up store named "Momo" in a mall. This innovative structure is built from recycled materials, featuring old windows and wooden panels, which gives it a very unique aesthetic and also emphasises sustainability. The design facilitates easy disassembly, allowing the materials to be reused in the future. Inside, the pop-up showcases clothing, targeting the younger generation. Overall, this green initiative draws attention and sparks conversation about sustainable design.

(Image credit: Momo Pop-up, Design Architect Andy Tong)

COACHTOPIA

Upcycled Off-Cut Fixatures

Coachtopia is a sustainable sub-brand of Coach, the fashion house, from New York. This line focuses on creating bags and ready-to-wear products entirely from repurposed materials, without the use of new resources. Last year, Coachtopia hosted a pop-up in London, with an eye-catching store made from a sustainable construction. The fixtures were crafted from cutting scraps in collaboration with Studio XAG, as well as upcycled display counters featuring elements of repurposed leather. The pop-up's slogan, "Have Taste, Love Waste," was creatively repurposed from neon flex offcuts. These upcycled displays were designed to be circular, meaning they were intended to be reused repeatedly across multiple store locations with a sustainable commitment.

(Image credit: Coachtopia, Studio XAG, Dezeen)

MINIWIZ

Plastic Exchange Pop-Up Store

Miniwiz, an innovative upcycling company from Taiwan, which upcycles industrial waste using advanced technology. In 2019, Miniwiz launched an "exchange pop-up store" in Italy, where no cash was accepted. Instead, visitors were encouraged to bring plastic items for repurposing. The pop-up featured products entirely made from donated materials, such as bags and plastic cups, all sourced from post-consumer waste. A key feature of the store was the Miniwiz 'Trashpresso,' a recycling machine. Upon entering, visitors can meet "Robin," a creatively designed smart bin that collects and sorts trash. Miniwiz had announced that every item in the pop-up was upcycled from single-use plastics, including discarded furniture. This zero-waste initiative was part of Miniwiz's commitment to encourage sustainable practices and to reduce waste for a better planet.

(Image credit: Miniwiz Upcycling Pop-Up, Miniwiz: Trashlab, Trashpresso, Robin Smart Bin)

L'OCCITANE

Zero Waste Pop-Up

L'Occitane, the French skincare, hair, and wellness brand from the South of France, introduced an eco-friendly pop-up last year in Brookvale, Sydney, Australia. Named "Brewed by L'Occitane," this pop-up was designed to promote zero waste sustainable practices. It featured various sustainable activities, which included zero-waste refill stations and eco-friendly fun events such as "Spin the Wheel," where participants could win a "Forever Bottle." This durable bottle, made entirely from recycled aluminum, can be filled with any refill fountain product at any L'Occitane refill station.

(Image credit: Brewed by L'Occitane Pop-Up, Zero Waste Refill Station)

The pop-up had also offered a Tea Pairing Service and an upcycling workshop, where visitors could upcycle empty L'Occitane bottles into decor items with the help of the team. A notable feature was the "Refill Fountain," built and designed in keeping with L'Occitane's responsible commitment to reducing waste and seeking ways to eliminate plastic through their devoted sustainable principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Making the pop-up fully circular, the sustainable activity extends further; the pop-up's wooden structure, crafted from sustainably sourced timber, has been reused for the third time, to prolong the use of the resources.

(Image credit: Brewed by L'Occitane Pop-Up, Forever Bottle, Upcycled Decor)

CARLSBERG 

Recycled Art Installation

Carlsberg, the popular beer brewing brand, launched a pop-up in Hong Kong from January to February 2024 to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. For this special occasion, Carlsberg introduced a limited edition series. The pop-up featured exclusive merchandise and a recycled art installation, created in collaboration with a local art group. This colourful installation repurposed 100 beer cans, compressing them into a shield-like structure. These were strategically placed to resemble the iconic Carlsberg hop leaf shape.

(Image credit: Carlsberg Hong Kong, Recycled Art by &dear, Marketing-Interactive)

Sustainable pop-ups like these can spark important conversations. Their eco-friendly inclusions help boost creativity and to strengthen bonds over shared sustainability values. Such initiatives with a circular approach create a forum to display the potential of temporary retail spaces to serve as catalysts for change, influencing both consumers and industries towards more sustainable practices and a deeper appreciation for our collaborative environmental responsibilities.