The Saturation Point began as an attempt to take something abundant and under-utilised, transforming it into something of value. This diverged into an exercise in recycling, experimenting with new and alternative methods of converting waste into intriguing forms.
Field Of Practice
“It cannot be right to manufacture billions of objects that are used for a matter of minutes, and then are with us for centuries.”
– Roz Savage
Plastic Disposal techniques (2021) sourced from ourworldindata.com
The Federal parliament has passed legislation banning the export of unprocessed waste overseas via the Recycling and Waste reduction act 2020. The new law provides an impetus to revitalise and reconfigure local infrastructure to reprocess and remanufacture recyclables onshore. This legislation will create local demand to reuse the recovered materials in infrastructure, packaging and products as the country moves towards a circular economy. Projects like the Saturation Point provide precedent to the possibility and viability of developing grass root practices to turn low-value waste materials into high-value, long-lasting products
Project Niche
Primary Plastic contributors by Industry (2021) sourced from ourworldindata.com
Black plastics pose a different obstacle compared to polymers of other colours. In terms of recyclability, these polymers are problematic as they cannot be detected by infrared sorting machines, they also contain higher levels of toxic chemicals. This coupled with the fact that there is little use for recycled black plastics the incentive to recycle them in the first place is extremely low. An opportunity for design intervention through a material crisis emerges.
Project Goals
1. Develop a defined process of recycling low valued materials into high value objects.
2. Design and develop a stool embodying the 'wabi-sabi' aesthetic embracing the materials unnatural origins.
3. Begin to develop an individual design practice of expertise in the plastic recycling space.
Process Development
All products, no matter their origins, contribute to a range of environmental issues. These issues emanate from creation, use and disposal; this is referred to as the whole life cycle of a product or cradle to cradle. Environmental impacts are determined by how the product is designed, the materials it uses, how long it is used, how long it will be used for, and if it is designed to be reused or recycled. Eco-redesign is a concept to redesign these products to reduce their environmental impacts. (Wise, 2015)
Developing My Practice
Turning low value recyclables into high value long lasting products.
Developing A Process Of Production
Project Outcomes
An aesthetic reflection on the materials origins as oil in a past life. Embodying the 'wabi sabi' ideology, considering the materials raw form and how it's imperfections is its core aesthetic.
Defined Recycling Process - Applicable to varying materials.
Significance
35
5L Oil drums
displaced per stool
Future Directions
