What if the objects we throw away could become the very things we choose to display in our homes? A broken chopping board transformed into a contemporary wall piece, a discarded jerry can reimagined as a bookmark, or an industrial oil container given a second life as functional shelving. This is the creative thinking behind the goTo Initiative × Jojo Temmeng collection, a collaboration that brings together upcycled design, craftsmanship and a fresh perspective on everyday waste.
Moving beyond the conventional idea of recycling, the collection explores how discarded materials can be transformed into distinctive design objects without losing the character of their original forms. It is a meeting point between sustainability and artistic expression, where materials often overlooked are given a new purpose through thoughtful design and hands-on creativity.
From Waste to Worth: The Stories Behind the Collection
The collaboration is particularly interesting because it challenges the way people perceive waste. Rather than treating discarded materials as the end of their usefulness, it approaches them as raw materials with untapped creative potential.
For goTo Initiative, this thinking connects to a broader commitment to advancing circular economy solutions in Ghana and across Africa. Its work focuses on making resource recovery more visible, practical and economically valuable. The initiative has also explored how design can influence consumer behaviour and make sustainable choices more appealing. Its Re’House experiment, developed with Jojo Temmeng Wison as lead creative partner, demonstrated how thoughtful retail design could encourage greater engagement with circular fashion.
For Jojo Temmeng, whose creative practice includes production design, interior styling and creative reuse, the collection provides an opportunity to turn this philosophy into tangible objects.
The result is a collection that does not attempt to hide where its materials came from. Instead, it makes their previous lives part of their appeal.
A Closer Look at the Collection
Each piece has its own personality, function and material story. From sculptural wall decorations to everyday accessories, the collection demonstrates how creative reuse can find a place in contemporary interiors.
1. Francici Mask
A broken wooden chopping board becomes a striking decorative object in the Francici Mask. Brought back to life with vintage button eyes and hand-turned pegs, the piece transforms an ordinary kitchen item into a modernist statement for the wall. Its appeal lies in the contrast between its humble origins and its new artistic identity. Rather than disguising the imperfections of the original wood, the design allows its history to contribute to its character.
2. Nipa Nua
Nipa Nua takes a different approach, bringing together salvaged steel, timber offcuts, bottle caps and vintage buttons to create a portrait. Hand-shaped wooden elements introduce texture, while the combination of reclaimed materials gives the work a raw, contemporary aesthetic. It is an example of how seemingly unrelated objects can come together to create something visually cohesive and expressive.
3. Pawson Bookmark
Who would have thought a discarded plastic jerry can could become a design accessory for book lovers? The Pawson Bookmark is cut from discarded jerry cans and reshaped into a sleek, sculptural silhouette. Its simplicity makes it functional, while its unusual material gives it a distinctive identity. It also makes an interesting statement about everyday design: even the smallest objects we use can be thoughtfully made.
4. Sankofa Coaster Set
The Sankofa Coaster Set brings creative reuse to the dining and entertaining experience. Designed as both a tabletop sculpture and a practical hosting essential, the coasters protect surfaces while adding an unexpected design element to the table.
The concept goes beyond functionality, turning an everyday household accessory into something that can spark conversation.
5. Shelving Can
Perhaps one of the collection’s most striking transformations is the Shelving Can. An industrial oil canister, which would ordinarily be discarded after use, is reimagined as a functional storage piece.
Paired with hand-curved wooden shelving, the design brings together industrial character and considered craftsmanship. It is a bold example of how reclaimed materials can be incorporated into contemporary interiors without compromising on visual appeal.
More Than Recycling: A Different Way to Think About Design
What makes the goTo Initiative × Jojo Temmeng collection worth exploring is the idea that sustainability and good design do not have to exist separately.
For a long time, conversations about recycling have largely centred on reducing waste and encouraging responsible disposal. While those conversations remain important, this collaboration explores another possibility: what if discarded materials could become desirable products in their own right?
There is also an important conversation about value. A broken chopping board, an empty industrial container or a discarded plastic jerry can might appear to have little use beyond disposal. But through craftsmanship, imagination and thoughtful intervention, these materials can acquire a completely different purpose.
The collection also invites a more considered approach to decorating and furnishing our spaces. Instead of choosing objects simply because they are new or conventional, it encourages people to appreciate pieces with a story, an unusual material composition and a distinct creative identity.
And because the pieces are made to order, the collection offers an opportunity to own something that has been thoughtfully created rather than simply mass-produced.
Discover and Own a Piece
The goTo Initiative × Jojo Temmeng collection is an invitation to look at everyday waste differently. It demonstrates that creative innovation does not always require starting with new materials; sometimes, the most interesting designs begin with something that has already been discarded.
Whether it is the Francici Mask, Nipa Nua, Pawson Bookmark, Sankofa Coaster Set or Shelving Can, each piece offers a different interpretation of upcycled design and handcrafted creativity.
Explore the online exhibition, find a piece that speaks to you, and make it yours. The collection is made to order, giving you the opportunity to bring a distinctive piece of sustainable design into your space.
Use this scan the QR code to explore the collection and place your order or via this link.