Upcycling
When a Single-Use Product Becomes Lasting Value
Bambahús is an upcycling company that transforms used IBC tanks—known in Iceland as bambas—into new, durable building components. Through a structured and professional production process, the steel and plastic are reshaped and given entirely new functions, creating products designed to remain in use for decades.
Rather than treating used IBC tanks as waste, we see them as raw materials with untapped potential. The steel frames are dismantled, cut, and reshaped into load-bearing structures, while the plastic is repurposed for growing beds, cladding, and other building components. Materials that cannot be used immediately are further processed to reduce their volume and prepare them for future applications.
This process creates greater value than the materials held in their original form. An IBC tank originally designed as an industrial transport container becomes a fundamental component in durable structures, cultivation solutions, and modular building systems with a clear and lasting purpose.
Upcycling is also a powerful source of innovation. It has led to the development of new building solutions, standardised units, specialised tools, and valuable expertise that brings together environmental responsibility, design, and craftsmanship.
Bambahús demonstrates how thoughtful processes and creative thinking can transform simple materials into lasting value for communities and future generations.
Innovation
Bambahús is built on practical innovation, giving surplus materials and industrial transport containers a new role within society. A diverse range of products has been developed from used IBC tanks, combining environmental responsibility, simple design, and practical value in everyday life.
Our primary products are growing spaces available in various configurations for private cultivation, preschools, primary schools, institutions, and public spaces. Alongside them, we have developed additional functional products from the same base materials. This creates consistency in design while maximising material use and minimising waste.
The innovation lies not only in the finished products, but throughout the entire process—from design and adaptation to component production, assembly, and continuous development. Over time, Bambahús has developed specialised knowledge and craftsmanship that make it possible to produce a wide range of practical solutions, create lasting value, and support sustainable employment.
Our work benefits the environment by extending the lifespan of materials that might otherwise undergo energy- and cost-intensive recycling. It also reduces the need for virgin raw materials and helps lower the overall carbon footprint. At the same time, it promotes greater awareness of cultivation, the circular economy, and the relationship between people and the environment.
The Bambahús system is not tied to a single country or market. Its philosophy and production methods can be transferred and adapted to different communities, climates, and local conditions.
This creates opportunities to share knowledge, establish local production, and introduce practical solutions that support sustainable development, employment, and local value creation—both in Iceland and internationally.