scholarly journals Adding Value: Upcycling problematic plastic waste through digital craft

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Huy Tim
Keyword(s):  
Field Research ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Research Through Design ◽  
Practice Based Research ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Single Use

<p><b>Plastic pollution is and continues to be a growing problem in today’s world. The consequences of its abundance and combination of take, make, and waste practices linger within our environment and landfills, resulting in negative social, economic, and environmental impacts. Due to China’s new waste ban, New Zealand (NZ) is no longer able to export plastic waste overseas. With the current inadequate waste management infrastructure and without recycling restrictions on different types of plastics, this waste stream becomes complex and problematic.</b></p> <p>A significant amount of this waste originates from single-use and non-recyclable plastics, which has only increased over time with the emergence of consumer convenience packaging. Thus, in addition to new infrastructure and systems, a cultural shift and greater awareness is needed to address the plastic waste issue.</p> <p>There are existing industry leaders who have successfully closed the loop for recycling certain plastic waste streams in NZ. However, field research has revealed that even within such closed looped systems, some residual non-recyclable waste still remains. This research proposes to add new value to this low value and problematic waste in the form of highly crafted artefacts.</p> <p>This opportunity is explored with a ‘Research through Design’ methodology focusing on 3D printing and digital craft. This includes a practice-based research approach that includes material experimentation and reflective practice to inform the creation of design outputs. The investigation explores the upcycling of bottle caps and sticker labels as difficult and low value waste streams. Outputs include 3D printed artefacts for a variety of applications, including lighting, furniture and craft objects. These design outputs aim to demonstrate how undervalued and neglected materials can be reincarnated in a more durable form, to raise awareness and elicit responses regarding throwaway culture and the global waste problem.</p>

scholarly journals Adding Value: Upcycling problematic plastic waste through digital craft

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Huy Tim
Keyword(s):  
Field Research ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Research Through Design ◽  
Practice Based Research ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Single Use

<p><b>Plastic pollution is and continues to be a growing problem in today’s world. The consequences of its abundance and combination of take, make, and waste practices linger within our environment and landfills, resulting in negative social, economic, and environmental impacts. Due to China’s new waste ban, New Zealand (NZ) is no longer able to export plastic waste overseas. With the current inadequate waste management infrastructure and without recycling restrictions on different types of plastics, this waste stream becomes complex and problematic.</b></p> <p>A significant amount of this waste originates from single-use and non-recyclable plastics, which has only increased over time with the emergence of consumer convenience packaging. Thus, in addition to new infrastructure and systems, a cultural shift and greater awareness is needed to address the plastic waste issue.</p> <p>There are existing industry leaders who have successfully closed the loop for recycling certain plastic waste streams in NZ. However, field research has revealed that even within such closed looped systems, some residual non-recyclable waste still remains. This research proposes to add new value to this low value and problematic waste in the form of highly crafted artefacts.</p> <p>This opportunity is explored with a ‘Research through Design’ methodology focusing on 3D printing and digital craft. This includes a practice-based research approach that includes material experimentation and reflective practice to inform the creation of design outputs. The investigation explores the upcycling of bottle caps and sticker labels as difficult and low value waste streams. Outputs include 3D printed artefacts for a variety of applications, including lighting, furniture and craft objects. These design outputs aim to demonstrate how undervalued and neglected materials can be reincarnated in a more durable form, to raise awareness and elicit responses regarding throwaway culture and the global waste problem.</p>

scholarly journals Plastic waste

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phạm Hà Trang ◽  
Hoang Truong Giang ◽  
Nguyen Cam Duong
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Global Problem ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Plastic Products

Plastic pollution is an urgent global problem that threatens the entire ecosystem, causing climate change and many other consequences that humans have to bear. Therefore, citizens need to uphold their sense of responsibility, consciously change living habits, say no to single-use plastic products. Protecting the environment, limiting plastic waste is protecting ourselves.

scholarly journals ‘Drinking and Dropping’: On Interacting with Plastic Pollution and Waste in South-Eastern Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Henderson ◽  
Emeka W. Dumbili
Keyword(s):  
Peer Group ◽  
Pure Water ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Single Use

Abstract Nigeria is reported as having released up to 0.34 million tonnes of plastic debris into the ocean in 2010 and ranked ninth country in the world for pollution of the marine environment. It is a postcolonial, oil-rich country where plastic is cheap and widely available. Currently, there is no government policy regulating single-use plastic products. Previous studies have identified university student residential areas as ‘hot spots’ for plastic waste. We used qualitative methods (focus groups and semi-structured interviews) to explore how students made sense of their single use plastics consumption (including ‘pure water’ plastic sachets) and analysed how young Nigerians interact with plastic waste. Students perceived plastic waste as malodorous, causing harm to human health and blighting environmental aesthetics. Students saw themselves as the cause of plastic pollution (as consumers) whereas plastic industries were framed positively as producers bringing progress and prosperity. Participants were open about their indiscriminate littering practices subverting other study findings where responsibility tends to be deflected (to policy makers, producers). While we are relying on self-reported behaviour, we found no obvious link between awareness of environmental harm caused by plastic pollution and students’ actions. Within this peer group of young Nigerians, it was not considered ‘normal’ or ‘cool’ socially to use waste bins or recycle. We suggest that further research is needed into how plastic pollution is made sense of in terms of individual responsibility; lay understandings of miasmas; perceptions of public/private spaces and plastics as a signifier of modernity and enhanced social status.

scholarly journals Bill Calls for Dramatically Cutting Plastic Pollution

Eos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy Showstack
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Recycling ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Set Up

With just 8% of plastic waste in the United States currently being recycled, the bill aims to set up an effective plastic recycling program and limit single-use plastic.

Environmental impact assessment of plastic waste during the outbreak of COVID-19 and integrated strategies for its control and mitigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrah Al Qahtani ◽  
Fatimah Al Wuhayb ◽  
Hacene Manaa ◽  
Adnan Younis ◽  
Shama Sehar
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Plastic Products

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, many positive shifts have been observed in the ecosystem, with a significant decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. On the other hand, there were unavoidable negative shifts due to a surge in demand for plastic products such as food and groceries’ delivery packaging, single-use plastics, medical and personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Plastic pollution can be considered as a key environmental issue in world due to the huge footprints of plastics on natural ecosystems and public health. Herein, we presented an overview on the rise of plastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential sources of plastic waste during COVID-19 with its negative effects on the environment such as marine ecosystems and the global economics are highlighted. We also suggested some strategies and recommendations to tackle plastic leakages by applying feedstock recycling, sterilization, and with the use of biodegradable plastics that have become a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel plastics. Also, the importance of elevating public awareness and some recommendations to mitigate plastic generated during the pandemic has been addressed as well.

scholarly journals Plastic Waste

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phạm Hà Trang ◽  
Hoàng Trường Giang ◽  
Nguyen Cam Duong
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Global Problem ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Plastic Products

Plastic pollution is an urgent global problem that threatens the entire ecosystem, causing climate change and many other consequences that humans have to bear. Therefore, citizens need to uphold their sense of responsibility, consciously change living habits, say no to single-use plastic products. Protecting the environment, limiting plastic waste is protecting ourselves.

scholarly journals Plastic in Practice: An empirical approach to 3D printed upcycling in New Zealand schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maddison Jessop-Benseman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Tactile Learning ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Participatory Research Methods

<p>Plastic has become an integral material in our society due to the broad range of applications it can be used for, however, it is having a detrimental effect on our environment. In addition to more efficient waste management systems, a cultural shift through education is fundamental for more effective management of plastic waste. Although the New Zealand National Curriculum currently teaches students about sustainability, the method of teaching remains conventional and does not explore the empirical, tactile learning opportunities that 3D printing provides. This research portfolio proposes the importance of an education programme which focuses on plastic waste, upcycling and 3D printing in New Zealand schools. It explores how tangible learning can engage students more effectively with topics such as sustainability. Through collaborating with students and teachers, participatory research methods have been employed in order to form a foundation for an education programme focused on 3D printed upcycling within New Zealand. The final output of this research consists of an education programme proposal, as well as a series of projects which could be integrated into the programme.</p>

scholarly journals Building Collective Ownership of Single-Use Plastic Waste in Youth Communities: A Jamaican Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
C. Andrea Bruce Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
School Communities ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Collective Ownership ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Teachers And Parents

Plastic pollution is a global environmental challenge with serious implications for human health. Most of the work on plastic waste to date has focused on assessing and mapping impacts and remedial activities, which are important but do not attempt to understand the attitude and behaviour of the consumer. The problem will only be resolved by changing behaviour to eliminate non-essential use of plastics and switch to less harmful alternatives, especially for Single-Use Plastic (SUP), which makes a disproportionate contribution to plastic waste. This study examines the attitudes and behaviour of teachers and parents/guardians in school communities as a step towards building collective ownership of SUP towards reducing the use of SUP. It establishes baseline data about attitudes and behaviour in four Jamaican primary schools. It examines the attitude of teachers and parents/guardians towards SUPs and uses cluster analysis to segment them based on attitude. The results identify the heterogeneous nature of groups within the same population and highlights the need for targeted interventions. This research can contribute towards the design of strategic interventions that will build a sense of collective ownership of the SUP problem and motivate effective changes in behaviour to minimise the use of SUPs in Jamaica.

scholarly journals Plastic in Practice: An empirical approach to 3D printed upcycling in New Zealand schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maddison Jessop-Benseman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Tactile Learning ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Participatory Research Methods

<p>Plastic has become an integral material in our society due to the broad range of applications it can be used for, however, it is having a detrimental effect on our environment. In addition to more efficient waste management systems, a cultural shift through education is fundamental for more effective management of plastic waste. Although the New Zealand National Curriculum currently teaches students about sustainability, the method of teaching remains conventional and does not explore the empirical, tactile learning opportunities that 3D printing provides. This research portfolio proposes the importance of an education programme which focuses on plastic waste, upcycling and 3D printing in New Zealand schools. It explores how tangible learning can engage students more effectively with topics such as sustainability. Through collaborating with students and teachers, participatory research methods have been employed in order to form a foundation for an education programme focused on 3D printed upcycling within New Zealand. The final output of this research consists of an education programme proposal, as well as a series of projects which could be integrated into the programme.</p>

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