Conceptual/Contextual statements
The majority of the following text is written by Rachael Li. Other group member inputs are referenced.
Most people tend to just forget about trash once it is in the bin. Out of sight, out of mind. It just “disappears”, but where does it go? This is the aim of this project, to show a scenario where your trash may potentially end up if it not able to be recycled and to also educate how it will affect the consumer. Ultimately, the plastic used by the consumer will affect them somehow. We specifically look into microplastics cycle and its effect through a narrative.
The mentality we followed for the entire semester was that “If we had to stand there and explain our project during Open Studio, then what is the point of it?” Meaning that if you had to explain the project then it means that it didn’t work. Your project should explain itself.
We looked into many different areas of study and problems to look at as the brief given was very broad. The chosen topic we looked into was pollution in New Zealand, specifically looking into littering and waterways. After research into those topics, this was then narrowed down into microplastics as it was widespread and also affects everyone. As for the actual project itself, there were also many broad concepts and ideas, from fear mongering using live fish to hopeful documentaries. It was still too broad. From looking at similar projects, we realized that they all had aspects of interactivity, education and communication. These are the things we would need in our project, communication using interactivity and education. Using these aspects we came up with an interactive infographic poster combining narrative and relevant statistics.
Educating the audience was something that we wanted to focus on as a group, we felt educating through immersion would be most appropriate for our concept. This is how we would get our main message across, to let the audience know, be aware and learn of the extent of the problem and to look into solutions to better themselves and the world around them. The education aspect of this project would be the statistics that show up with the smaller objects. These are carefully selected statistics aimed to impact the audience to reflect on their actions, their consumeristic idealism and their contribution to the trashing of single use plastics.
Interactivity was another important aspect of this project. Humans are curious and learn by interacting whether it is with an object or another human. By incorporating interactivity with conductive and reactive graphics on an infographic, we aim to leave a lasting impression or lesson in the mind of the viewer. Hopefully educating the consumerism mindset of buying for the sake of having. The obvious interactive aspect is the touching of the actual infographic. The deeper interactive is the actual storyline of the large objects. The intention of these were to give the audience a scenario of how their single use plastic usage contributes to the larger problem of how microplastics in the environment affect the flora and fauna and most importantly, our health. We believe that if we can show the user how they directly relate to the issue, they will be more likely to consider their actions in the long-run.
The majority of the following text is written by Rachael Li. Other group member inputs are referenced
Although banning of plastic bags is gaining traction in New Zealand, it still is not enough (Ministry for the Environment. (n.d.)). The effects of the reduction of plastic bags are barely noticeable when we are still surrounded by so many other single use plastic packaging items. The plastic bag ban may temporarily help with a consumer's guilty conscience about the effects of plastics to us and the environment.
Plastic pollutants, littering and illegal dumping are a problem in the Auckland area. The restoration and upkeep of New Zealand’s environment is necessary for the preservation of a “clean and green” image (Ministry for the Environment. (n.d.). This is important not just for our tourism industry but also for the enjoyment and education of our future generations. There is obvious plastic pollution that you can see such as plastics and litter on the streets, beaches and parks. However, there are more plastics that many of us can’t see, such as plastics on the ocean floor or small plastic particles in the environment called microplastics.
For this project we have decided to look into the invisible dangers of microplastics (Orb Media. (n.d.)). Some plastics can only be recycled through manmade processes, leaving the rest of single use plastics to end up in landfills and other areas. The plastics that are not recycled do not biodegrade, they gradually break down into smaller pieces through physical and called microplastics.
The invisibility and the widespread of it is quite concerning . Plastics are harmful in the natural ecosystem. The ingestion of plastics may cause harmful effects on the entire ecosystem, microplastics are ingestible to small aquatic organisms (Zeng, E. Y. (2018)). The plastic additives and the absorbed toxins leach into the gastrointestinal tract of a small ocean organism, the ingested toxins are concentrated into the surrounding body and flesh, when eaten by a larger organism, the toxins moves up along the food chain (Frederic Gallo, Cristina Fossi, Roland Weber, David Santillo, Joao Sousa, Imogen Ingram, … Dolores Romano. (2018)). Ultimately, being ingested by those at the top of the food chain, us (Johnston, I. (2017, July 26)).
Plastic has been around for 100 years, the production of plastic has drastically increased and it is now a commodity. However, we never really looked into effects it may have on us and the natural environment or how to properly dispose or recycle it. Now that it has reached the point where everything around us is plastic, what can we do with it?
Consumerism is a factor in the demand and production of non-recyclable materials. This is a mindset we hope to change eventually. To make better purchase choices and to always question whether it is that you need it or just want it. In the average consumers minds, the usefulness and convenience outweigh the damages it may cause(Miles, S. (1998)).
There are many different organizations and campaigns already targeting plastic pollutions. However, as a group we have decided to focus on the effects of widespread microplastics. Looking at similar projects such as Plastic Oceans (Plastic Oceans. (n.d.)) and 4Oceans (4Ocean. (n.d.)), we have realized that communication and connection is key to educating youth and the general public. This is a good way to make them aware of consumer tendencies and the dangers and effects of singles use plastics on the entire planet and even themselves. As seen, this could be done through many different mediums such as campaigns, powerful documentaries or even recycling waste plastics into an object that someone could purchase.
Ministry for the Environment. (n.d.). Single-use plastic bags to be phased out | Ministry for the Environment. Retrieved from http://www.mfe.govt.nz/news-events/single-use-plastic-bags-be-phased-out
Miles, S. (1998). Consumerism : as a way of life. London : Sage Publications, 1998.
Zalk, N. (2017, August 31). Why are New Zealand’s waters so polluted? Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2017/08/zealand-waters-polluted-170831090454283.html
Our clean green image: What’s it worth? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/clean-green-aug01-final.pdf
Pressures on our water environment | Ministry for the Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/environmental-reporting/state-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-environment-1997-chapter-seven-state-our-3
Waste generation and disposal in New Zealand | Ministry for the Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/environmental-reporting/state-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-environment-1997-chapter-three-production-3
National Ocean Service. (n.d.). What are microplastics? Retrieved from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
Zeng, E. Y. (2018). Microplastic contamination in aquatic environments : an emerging matter of environmental urgency. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier, [2018]. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05020a&AN=aut.b2532469x&site=eds-live
Frederic Gallo, Cristina Fossi, Roland Weber, David Santillo, Joao Sousa, Imogen Ingram, … Dolores Romano. (2018). Marine litter plastics and microplastics and their toxic chemicals components: the need for urgent preventive measures. Environmental Sciences Europe, Vol 30, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2018), (1), 1. https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.1186/s12302-018-0139-z
NZ Herald. (2018, September 20). Microplastic pollution much worse than feared. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12012070
GreenFacts. (n.d.). Marine Litter: 3. What are microplastics and how do they enter the marine environment? Retrieved from https://www.greenfacts.org/en/marine-litter/l-2/3-micro-plastics.htm
Johnston, I. (2017, July 26). Plastic microparticles found in flesh of fish eaten by humans. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/plastic-microparticles-fish-flesh-eaten-humans-food-chain-mackerel-anchovy-mullet-a7860726.html/
Orb Media. (n.d.). Invisibles. Retrieved from https://orbmedia.org/stories/Invisibles_plastics/
4Ocean. (n.d.). 4ocean is Actively Cleaning our Oceans and Coastlines. Retrieved from https://4ocean.com
Plastic Oceans. (n.d.). Rethink Plastic. Save Our Seas ? Plastic Oceans Foundation. Retrieved from https://plasticoceans.org/