Since 2018, Nicole McLaughlin has explored greater possibilities for sustainability through self-initiated and collaborative efforts. By transforming discarded miscellanea into objects with new, imaginative, and often unexpected utility, McLaughlin shows how a circular approach to design and manufacturing can help us reframe waste as an opportunity. McLaughlin has partnered with companies such as Hermès, Arc'teryx, Nike, eBay, Gucci, and Vans. Her work has been displayed at the Design Museum in London in conjunction with her nomination for the Beazley Design of the Year in 2020. Her works have most recently been shown in the Berman Museum in Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. In 2022, McLaughlin was announced as a Forbes 30 under 30 member within art and design. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue, Footwear News, GQ, InStyle, and more.