Art can be vision, symbolism, responsibility – and even recycling!
Michelangelo Pistoletto demonstrates this once again with his famous work “Terzo Paradiso” – which can be viewed and experienced in the Villa Reale Park in Monza until 31 October 2026 – reaffirming the need for a new balance between nature, technology and society. A powerful message, which in this installation takes concrete form through the use of benches certified by Plastica Seconda Vita, capable of transforming public spaces into places for reflection, encounter and awareness.
As IPPR – the Institute for the Promotion of Recycled Plastics – we are particularly proud to support this project, spearheaded by Preco System, a company with a long-standing association with IPPR, which demonstrates how recycled plastic can become a high-quality, durable material that embodies cultural and ethical values. L’opera di Pistoletto non è solo un’installazione artistica: è una dichiarazione di intenti, un invito a ripensare il rapporto tra produzione industriale, ambiente e comunità.
Terzo Paradiso, a trinamic symbol that reinterprets the infinity sign, represents the union between the first paradise – where humankind is fully integrated with nature – and the second paradise – that of human creation, science and technology. In this installation, this concept takes shape through benches made from 100% recycled plastic certified by Plastica Seconda Vita, arranged to outline the work’s form whilst also serving a social purpose: to sit, to linger, to share. A simple gesture that holds deep meaning.
The benches used are manufactured by Preco System, a leading name in the UK street furniture sector specialising in recycled materials. Through the recycling of post-consumer plastic, the company demonstrates how industrial innovation can combine quality, durability and sustainability, transforming waste into a durable resource that benefits the community.
This installation perfectly illustrates the value of ‘Plastica Seconda Vita’: a material that is no longer waste, but a tool for urban, environmental and cultural regeneration. This is concrete proof that the circular economy is not an abstract concept, but a reality that is already taking shape, built day by day through the commendable efforts of businesses and collaboration with the cultural sector and institutions.
According to the IPPR, initiatives such as this serve as a model to follow. The partnership between a leading figure in contemporary art, a dynamic company such as Preco System, and a shared vision of sustainability demonstrates that recycled plastic can play a central role in projects of great symbolic and social significance, helping to foster a new culture around the material.
Terzo Paradiso reminds us that the future depends on the choices we make today. Supporting and promoting recycled plastic means investing in a more sustainable model of development, one that combines beauty, functionality and respect for the environment. È questa la direzione che IPPR, insieme ai suoi associati, continua a promuovere: un percorso in cui innovazione e sostenibilità camminano insieme.
