Letting the Snail and Turtle Roam Freely Through Forest and Ocean - PIGLAB CEO Kevin Cho
🌳 A designer who loves nature turns inspiration from nature into products for nature.
With circularity in both material and message, PIGLAB’s Snail Cutter and Turtle Opener are poetic reminders of reuse and environmental care. We sat down with Kevin Cho, the founder of this one-of-a-kind “lab,” to hear more about his creative experiments in sustainability.
Tell us about your brand, PIGLAB – the name is quite unique!
PIGLAB is a brand that creates sustainable, upcycled design goods from discarded materials. The name is partly because I was born in the Year of the Pig, but more meaningfully, it stands for “Product Inspired by Green.”
When did your interest in sustainability begin, and how did it lead to launching a brand?
I’ve always loved nature. I spent over 15 years as a product designer, and I was also involved in environmental NGOs. Over time, I felt strongly about combining my professional skills with my personal values. So I launched PIGLAB last year as a way to turn my interests into impact.
Was there a lot of trial and error in developing your products?
Absolutely. In Korea alone, over 100,000 tons of plastic waste are generated every year. I wanted to avoid creating even more plastic in the name of sustainability, so I spent a lot of time researching materials and refining processes. More than just using recycled materials, I wanted every product to tell a story—to spark interest in environmental issues through design.
Where do you source your recycled materials like ghost nets or scrap wood?
The Snail Cutter is made using recycled wood. We partnered with a specialized company that reprocesses wood waste into usable raw material. For the Turtle Opener, we use ghost nets collected from the East Sea. These are supplied by a startup and a mid-sized company specializing in marine waste recycling.
The snail and turtle designs are so charming! Why did you choose such round, gentle forms?
It wasn’t about choosing round animals per se. We chose the Korean land snail and green sea turtle because they represent forest and ocean life. Both products are meant to be handheld, so ergonomics and safety were key. That naturally led to smooth, rounded shapes that feel good to hold and use.
Beyond materials, how else do you incorporate sustainability into your process?
We avoid painting or coating our products. Most companies spray color after molding, but that creates dust and gas emissions that contribute to global warming. We also use 100% recyclable kraft paper for packaging—no plastic, no tape. Even the product info and user manuals are printed with soy ink on eco-paper.
Are there any new products in the works?
PIGLAB has two main themes: the Forest Project and the Ocean Project. We’re expanding our lineup around these. The next item is part of the Forest Project—a pencil holder inspired by the endangered black woodpecker, a natural monument in Korea.
Your Snail Cutter won the Silver Prize at the Good Design Award 2023 and was named a Global Lifestyle Masterpiece in 2024. What do you think set it apart?
Probably the focus on sustainability. While the cutter and opener are useful, they’re not radically new tools. They’re familiar items—what’s different is the use of recycled materials and the storytelling that makes people reflect on the environment.
Your crowdfunding campaigns have done very well on platforms like Tumblbug and Kakao Makers. Any memorable stories?
When I launched my first campaign, I was honestly terrified it might flop. But it did well, and I felt this incredible joy seeing customers resonate with our message. Even our crowdfunding in Japan got great feedback. I still remember replying to every single comment—it felt like we were truly sharing something meaningful.
What PIGLAB products can people find at the DDP Design Store?
We have the Snail Unboxing Cutter and the Turtle Bottle Opener Keyring.
The snail cutter detaches into a handy ceramic blade and can be stored magnetically.
The turtle opener is a 3-in-1 tool—its head opens bottles, its body unscrews caps, and its tail lifts can tabs.
What’s your vision for the future of PIGLAB?
I want to keep creating user-friendly, idea-driven products that minimize environmental harm.
Right now, we’re in 8 offline stores across Korea, including DDP, and we’re aiming to expand globally.
We’ll be exhibiting at Maison & Objet Paris this September and also participating in the DDP Launching Fair in October with our own booth.
🛍️ Source: DDP Design Store(https://www.ddpdesignstore.org/)
Letting the Snail and Turtle Roam Freely Through Forest and Ocean - PIGLAB CEO Kevin Cho
🌳 A designer who loves nature turns inspiration from nature into products for nature.
With circularity in both material and message, PIGLAB’s Snail Cutter and Turtle Opener are poetic reminders of reuse and environmental care. We sat down with Kevin Cho, the founder of this one-of-a-kind “lab,” to hear more about his creative experiments in sustainability.
Tell us about your brand, PIGLAB – the name is quite unique!
PIGLAB is a brand that creates sustainable, upcycled design goods from discarded materials. The name is partly because I was born in the Year of the Pig, but more meaningfully, it stands for “Product Inspired by Green.”
When did your interest in sustainability begin, and how did it lead to launching a brand?
I’ve always loved nature. I spent over 15 years as a product designer, and I was also involved in environmental NGOs. Over time, I felt strongly about combining my professional skills with my personal values. So I launched PIGLAB last year as a way to turn my interests into impact.
Was there a lot of trial and error in developing your products?
Absolutely. In Korea alone, over 100,000 tons of plastic waste are generated every year. I wanted to avoid creating even more plastic in the name of sustainability, so I spent a lot of time researching materials and refining processes. More than just using recycled materials, I wanted every product to tell a story—to spark interest in environmental issues through design.
Where do you source your recycled materials like ghost nets or scrap wood?
The Snail Cutter is made using recycled wood. We partnered with a specialized company that reprocesses wood waste into usable raw material. For the Turtle Opener, we use ghost nets collected from the East Sea. These are supplied by a startup and a mid-sized company specializing in marine waste recycling.
The snail and turtle designs are so charming! Why did you choose such round, gentle forms?
It wasn’t about choosing round animals per se. We chose the Korean land snail and green sea turtle because they represent forest and ocean life. Both products are meant to be handheld, so ergonomics and safety were key. That naturally led to smooth, rounded shapes that feel good to hold and use.
Beyond materials, how else do you incorporate sustainability into your process?
We avoid painting or coating our products. Most companies spray color after molding, but that creates dust and gas emissions that contribute to global warming. We also use 100% recyclable kraft paper for packaging—no plastic, no tape. Even the product info and user manuals are printed with soy ink on eco-paper.
Are there any new products in the works?
PIGLAB has two main themes: the Forest Project and the Ocean Project. We’re expanding our lineup around these. The next item is part of the Forest Project—a pencil holder inspired by the endangered black woodpecker, a natural monument in Korea.
Your Snail Cutter won the Silver Prize at the Good Design Award 2023 and was named a Global Lifestyle Masterpiece in 2024. What do you think set it apart?
Probably the focus on sustainability. While the cutter and opener are useful, they’re not radically new tools. They’re familiar items—what’s different is the use of recycled materials and the storytelling that makes people reflect on the environment.
Your crowdfunding campaigns have done very well on platforms like Tumblbug and Kakao Makers. Any memorable stories?
When I launched my first campaign, I was honestly terrified it might flop. But it did well, and I felt this incredible joy seeing customers resonate with our message. Even our crowdfunding in Japan got great feedback. I still remember replying to every single comment—it felt like we were truly sharing something meaningful.
What PIGLAB products can people find at the DDP Design Store?
We have the Snail Unboxing Cutter and the Turtle Bottle Opener Keyring.
The snail cutter detaches into a handy ceramic blade and can be stored magnetically.
The turtle opener is a 3-in-1 tool—its head opens bottles, its body unscrews caps, and its tail lifts can tabs.
What’s your vision for the future of PIGLAB?
I want to keep creating user-friendly, idea-driven products that minimize environmental harm.
Right now, we’re in 8 offline stores across Korea, including DDP, and we’re aiming to expand globally.
We’ll be exhibiting at Maison & Objet Paris this September and also participating in the DDP Launching Fair in October with our own booth.
🛍️ Source: DDP Design Store(https://www.ddpdesignstore.org/)