From waste to impact: how Swinburne alum Ben Wood is rethinking textile sustainability

For Swinburne alum Ben Wood, what began as a small idea between friends has grown into a purpose‑led business tackling one of the most complex challenges in sustainability.

Ben is the co‑founder of Waste in Progress (WIPWRK), a Melbourne‑based design studio turning discarded technical textiles into high‑performance products. From industrial equipment covers to community workshops, Waste in Progress sits at the intersection of design, manufacturing and environmental impact - with a clear focus on moving waste at scale.

The earliest version of Waste in Progress was modest. Ben and his co‑founder Frank initially planned to run a small sewing class for friends, teaching people how to make simple items like tote bags from fabric scraps. Inspired by Melbourne’s growing upcycling scene, the idea was about learning, creativity and doing something tangible with waste.

That changed when they encountered what was then known as the 2nd Life Project (now the Chameleon). The organisation had been collecting technical goods – tents, backpacks and outdoor equipment – for years, with no clear outlet for the sheer volume of material coming through its doors. Seeing that supply was a turning point.

“It was the first moment we thought there might be a real business here,” Ben says. “We could see ourselves making products for people in niches they already cared about, using materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.”

The idea crystallised further when Waste in Progress began working with commercial and manufacturing clients. Producing protective covers for large industrial equipment revealed both the complexity and the potential of their skill set. Just as importantly, it highlighted where the greatest environmental impact could be made.

“Consumer products don’t move much material unless you’re operating at very high volume,” Ben explains. “But commercial‑scale work uses enormous amounts of fabric. When we talk about being viable, we’re talking about impact as much as profit. Both have to be true.”

That balance between practicality and purpose has shaped Ben’s design philosophy, one that began long before university. Growing up, he spent his time building with LEGO and cardboard, making cubby houses, and even constructing a doghouse for his childhood pet. Looking back, those early projects were already about solving problems to improve the lives of others.

At Swinburne, that instinct was given structure. The university’s hands‑on, industry‑connected approach pushed students out of purely conceptual thinking and into workshops, prototyping and testing ideas in the real world.

“Swinburne rewards people who put in the work to bridge the gap between idea and reality,” Ben says. “That grounding has been foundational to everything we make.”

Since graduating, Ben’s approach to design has shifted decisively towards action. While university frameworks and theory remain valuable, running a business brings a different kind of accountability.

“In industry, the buck stops with you,” he says. “Now it’s about trying something, seeing if it solves a real problem, improving it if it does and changing or stopping if it doesn’t.”

That mindset has been reinforced through Ben’s continued connection to Swinburne as a sessional lecturer. Teaching prototyping and design thinking sharpened his ability to communicate ideas clearly, adapt to different learning styles, and work with people one‑on‑one.

His involvement with Swinburne’s Design Factory further expanded his ability to collaborate across disciplines, from engineering and business to psychology and occupational therapy.

Building a business around circularity, however, comes with unique challenges. Unlike conventional manufacturers, Waste in Progress relies almost entirely on donated materials. That means never knowing exactly what will arrive next or in what condition.

“We can research materials, but brands aren’t always specific,” Ben says. “A lot of our decisions come down to intuition and experience – and that isn’t always perfect.”

The stakes are high. If a product doesn’t last, it’s not just a disappointed customer; it’s lost time, lost resources and lost potential impact. That’s why Waste in Progress defines sustainability through durability, both physical and emotional.

“A product has to physically last,” Ben explains, “but it also has to fit into someone’s life over time. If it doesn’t suit their style or needs, they won’t use it, even if it’s still structurally sound.”

This philosophy extends beyond individual products to the broader ecosystem Waste in Progress is helping to build. Collaboration and community partnerships are central to the studio’s future vision.

“Huge volumes of technical textiles go to landfill every year, and they’re incredibly hard to recycle,” Ben says. “The only realistic way forward is collective.”

Waste in Progress is working towards a community based ‘triage’ network, where materials flow between organisations based on who can use them best. If a material doesn’t suit one maker, it can be redirected to another. At the same time, Ben sees the need for top down change, including policy frameworks like material passports, which require brands to clearly specify material composition.

“Bottom up effort and top down policy have to work together,” he says.

For Swinburne students and alumni interested in sustainability driven careers, Ben’s advice is clear: go to the source and understand how things are actually made.

“If you want to create change, you have to understand the manufacturing process,” he says. “Until you understand the constraints businesses are working under, your ideas will only go so far.”

Building credibility, he adds, is essential. Waste in Progress’s partnerships were only possible once the studio had proven its products worked in the real world.

“People are busy. They don’t have time for half formed ideas,” Ben says. “Build the evidence first. Then bring it to people.”