This was the revelation of Sydney-based designers of Heliograf, Jeffrey Simpson and Angus Ware. Heliograf has taken this sushi condiment and amplified its form to spotlight its outsized impact on our oceans. This resulted in the Light Soy, an award-winning lamp designed to stop ocean pollution at the 'sauce'.
Living by the coast, Simpson and Ware didn't need statistics to see the problem – though the numbers, like the eight million tons of oceanic plastic pollution yearly, are staggering. The duo witnessed firsthand the alarming regularity with which these soy bottles, and other plastic debris, washed ashore. Such sightings brought to light a broader, global plastic menace. As Ware aptly puts it, these minuscule soy fish, delightful in design given their shape, but ironically disastrous for the marine environment they represent.
Initially, the Light Soy lamps were a gesture, an artistic commentary on the environmental crisis. However, the positive reception inspired the duo to push the boundaries. Light Soy lamps now feature 75% ocean-bound polypropylene, with ambitions to increase this figure to a full 100%.
Beyond the lamp's construction, every Light Soy sold leads to the clean up of an additional 2 kilograms of potential ocean-bound plastic. To date, Heliograf's efforts have averted over 15.5 tons of plastics – equating to over 15 million of those tiny soy sauce bottles – from polluting our oceans. In addition, their approach also focuses on reinforcing better waste management.
Heliograf showcases two distinctive styles in their Light Soy collection: the 'Light Soy Portable Lamp' and the 'Light Soy Pendant'. For those opting for the Portable Lamp, there's an additional choice for the base - either a Black or Gold, meticulously crafted from durable aluminium and topped with an anodised finish. Both design styles are equipped with touch-control settings, offering four brightness levels. Furthermore, with the USB-C recharge feature, the Light Soy ensures that a single full charge illuminates your space for up to 20 hours.
This playful yet purposeful lamp showcases the duality of design – the potential to be functional and deeply meaningful. To find out how to purchase Light Soy, discover more about Heliograf and to keep up to date with their latest releases, visit their website and Instagram.
