Our Q +A with Tasha Green, Founder of Weaver Green

At Aspiga, we’re passionate about sustainability and ethical craftsmanship, which is why we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on our partnership with Weaver Green—a brand turning 100% recycled plastic bottles into beautifully handcrafted rugs, cushions, bags and blankets. In this exclusive Q&A with Tasha Green, the visionary founder of Weaver Green, we dive into their journey of transforming waste into wonder, their commitment to artisans, and the future of sustainable design. It’s a celebration of innovation and purpose, and we couldn’t be prouder to stand alongside like-minded pioneers in the fight for a fairer, greener planet.

From Ropes to Rugs: Turning discarded single-use plastic bottles into soft, wool-like textiles is nothing short of alchemy! Can you tell us about the ‘aha moment’ when you realised you could transform plastic waste into beautiful, practical homeware?
 
We were sitting on a harbour wall in south-east Turkey, watching the fishing boats flow in and out, and spotted a brilliant bit of innovation where a number of plastic bottles had been cut into curly strips, ends melted together then plaited to create a kind of rope... something about seeing what had once been a hard, moulded structure (the plastic bottle) turned into a fluid rope-like material really clicked, and started our journey to create a wonder yarn that was both entirely recycled and entirely (and easily) recyclable.  It was essential to me that the yarn feel natural to the touch, like wool, cotton or jute, and that development took us 7 years - I am so proud of the result.

 The 7-Year Itch: Perfecting your unique textile took seven years - What kept you motivated during that time, and were there any unexpected setbacks along the way?
 
There were lots of setbacks! At one point we were advised that all our UK plastic was being shipped abroad (Malaysia and China), so even though we were as a nation creating huge amounts of plastic waste, it was being sent overseas and was no longer available for us to use as our main manufacturing material... very frustrating! We instead looked to countries that were struggling with huge plastic waste issues, very little recycling waste management and a history of excellence and innovation in weaving textiles.  We were already sourcing sisal and jute from great friends in India for a natural flooring company we started, and had a long history of travel and working throughout India (we fell in love and married in Rajasthan many years ago) - so took our equipment to India and developed relationships with brilliant yarn spinners and set up a network of talented artisan weavers. We now have projects and weavers throughout South-East Asia and Europe working on developments for our yarn and helping us to weave our beautiful designs.
 
Artisans & Ethics: Like Aspiga, you work with artisans around the globe. Can share a favourite story from the collaboration process - One that speaks to the heart of what Weaver Green stands for?

We are a small family owned business, and have always looked to work with passionate, independent partners with our product development. My favourite collaboration so far has been with our incredible Kilim weavers, generational artisans that have passed the intricate skill of weaving beautiful hand-loomed Kilim rugs from generation to generation. With the advent of cheap machine woven rugs, mass production of cheap imitations, many of these weaving families were leaving the trade, and there was a genuine risk of losing the incredible artistry and skill of traditional Kilim weaving... we have run projects from our inception to really celebrate and elevate the hand-loom Kilim designs within our rug range. They are absolutely my favourite weaver green products and the intricacy and antique look and feel of our new Silk Road range is astonishing. Look at the Aster Rug .. I love how the combination of innovation in materials and generationally learnt artistry can result in such a brilliant and beautiful product.. wow!
 
The Plastic Problem: With 35 billion plastic bottles discarded each year, your work is clearly tacking a colossal challenge. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the scale of the issue, or do you find it motivates you to keep innovating?
 
We clearly aren't going to be able to solve the waste plastic problems alone, so, as with all issues with global warming and environmental damage, you just have to do your bit! We decided from the beginning that we should design our entire manufacturing process for our yarn around the principles of leaving a light footprint on the environment. We pioneered a mono material process that uses only PET plastic, allowing us to not only make our Weaver Green rugs and textiles from entirely recycled single use plastic, but also ensuring that all our products are completely and easily recyclable with no material separation needed when they have finished their useful life as a product.  We developed a closed water system in our yarn process, which means we use a tiny quantity of water to produce our yarn compared to conventional textiles manufacturing, and have almost zero emissions of wastewater, constantly reusing and cleaning/recycling our water. 

When we first started we were the only company who were really taking plastic bottles and focusing only on turning that waste material into beautiful, useful and fully recyclable textiles.  We're really proud of what we've achieved, and I love it when people first meet one of our rugs and can't believe it's not made from wool - if we can do it , surely the big players in textile brands can too? We need more responsible manufacturing, and legislation incentives to instigate change. 

Why aren't washing machine companies putting micro plastic filters in washing machines at the point of manufacture? Such a simple thing to do... 
 
Sustainability Meets Style: Like Weaver Green, we take pride in offering pieces that are both stylish and sustainable. Some people associate sustainability with compromise. What do you say to skeptics who think recycled materials can’t feel luxurious or chic?
 
Come and lie on one of our beautiful rugs ... they feel gorgeous and natural and you won't believe they're made from recycled plastic (if you spill a glass of red wine on them you can also pop them in the washing machine and they'll look like new).

When we first started (pre 'A Plastic Ocean' and David Attenborough bringing to our collective attention the disastrous effect of plastic on our waterways and planet) people were really not interested in the recycled plastic underpinning of what we made, the fact everything we made was machine washable (yes, even the rugs), could be used and left outside, wouldn't be eaten by moths etc, were the big selling points... then Blue Planet featured the plastic islands in the middle of the pacific, we saw turtles with beer can holders trapped around their necks, and suddenly everyone really GOT what we were trying to do.
 
The truth is our collective love affair with plastic is entirely understandable - it's light, highly insulating, can be washed, won't go mouldy, can be extruded and moulded into incredible shapes and packaging, allows us to drink clean water and contain liquids and food stuffs - we just need to ensure we reuse and recycle it, and stop making new! 
 
The Big Picture: Though we tackle different facets of sustainability - clothing and homeware - our broader goal is the same; to reduce waste and protect our planet. If you could fast-forward 10 years, what’s the one change you’d love to see in how consumers approach sustainability?
 
Less is more - I think we all need to really think before we buy stuff, and when we do, ensure that it will last, has been made in the most sustainable and positive way, and to really THINK about what's going to happen to that product when it stops being useful to you... how easily can it be recycled? The big watch word for me has and always will be 'MONO MATERIAL'. As a general rule (and particularly with textiles) if the rug or dress is made from any synthetic material at all, just ensure it's not a mixed material (ie nylon with polyester, or even polyester with wool) - the second you mix one synthetic material with another or even a natural fibre, you make it almost impossible to recycle and condemn it to either landfill or incineration.  Don't. Mix. Synthetic. Materials!

From chic clothing to beautiful homeware, Aspiga and Weaver Green are proof that style and sustainability go hand in hand. By supporting small, purpose-driven brands, you’re not just shopping - you’re investing in a better future for people and the planet. Explore our timeless, eco-conscious collections at Aspiga and discover the magic of Weaver Green's rugs and textiles. Together, let’s create a world where every choice counts. Use code ASPIGA15 for 15% off! *doesn't include ottomans, sales items or underlay. 1 offer per customer only.

Click here to enter our most recent giveaway with Weaver Green, where you can be in with a chance of winning £250 to spend at both Aspiga and Weaver Green - That’s a £500 prize fund!