1
The third group of basic materials consists of plastics. Almost all types of plastics are composed of carbon-based molecules, which makes them organic - but organic doesn’t mean easily degradable.2
Although plastic production reminds us of the need to change the approach to material handling, not all plastics are naturally bad.
Plastics are generally divided into two basic groups: thermoplastics and thermosets (according to their thermal behaviour). Individual types of plastics differ from each other not only in their physical properties, but also in the possibilities of their recycling. Thermoplastics are among the most commonly used for their formability and easier recycling.3 The complexity of product recycling also depends on the additives. For example, a car tyre - the service life of which is even stipulated by law - is made of rubber, iron wires and textile fibres. In the recycling process, all these elements must be separated (more about recycling in text C).
In the context of recycling and user involvement, Precious Plastic is definitely worth mentioning. Its founder Dave Hakkens created a system for home recycling of plastic containers. In the Czech environment, the Plastic Guys studio is engaged in the production of boards from recycled plastic containers.
Bioplastics also fall under the category of thermoplastics. Bioplastics differ from synthetic plastics by a source of carbon which is extracted from plant sources instead of oil. Different types of bioplastics then have different degrees of degradability (which can be considered as an alternative to recycling). The most widely used representative of bioplastics is PLA (Polylactic acid).4 Bioplastics are slowly replacing petroleum plastics, especially in packaging materials. However, their global exclusive use across industry is stagnating at the political and economic levels. The problem also arises with their physical properties, such as lower degree of thermal degradation compared to some petroleum plastics.
The Slovak studio Crafting Plastics works with a biodegradable bioplastic (NUATAN) and has long been involved in its use not only in the creation of art objects, but also in its application in serial production.
In recent years, alternative sources have emerged that could replace synthetic plastics in the packaging industry in the future. For example, a material of animal origin MARINATEX uses residual products from the fishing industry. Unfortunately, fishing is now considered a major issue as an industry that negatively affects the harmony of flora and fauna in the oceans. Overfishing is thus one of the causes of global warming.5 There are also producers who use waste plant resources as raw materials for the creation of alternative plastics. For example, the Chip Board material is produced from potato waste or the Aqua Faba Foam material, which arises from the residual production of chickpeas. Seaweed has also proven to be a very interesting resource for the production of alternative plastics (Evoware) in recent years.
Plastics are generally divided into two basic groups: thermoplastics and thermosets (according to their thermal behaviour). Individual types of plastics differ from each other not only in their physical properties, but also in the possibilities of their recycling. Thermoplastics are among the most commonly used for their formability and easier recycling.3 The complexity of product recycling also depends on the additives. For example, a car tyre - the service life of which is even stipulated by law - is made of rubber, iron wires and textile fibres. In the recycling process, all these elements must be separated (more about recycling in text C).
In the context of recycling and user involvement, Precious Plastic is definitely worth mentioning. Its founder Dave Hakkens created a system for home recycling of plastic containers. In the Czech environment, the Plastic Guys studio is engaged in the production of boards from recycled plastic containers.
Bioplastics also fall under the category of thermoplastics. Bioplastics differ from synthetic plastics by a source of carbon which is extracted from plant sources instead of oil. Different types of bioplastics then have different degrees of degradability (which can be considered as an alternative to recycling). The most widely used representative of bioplastics is PLA (Polylactic acid).4 Bioplastics are slowly replacing petroleum plastics, especially in packaging materials. However, their global exclusive use across industry is stagnating at the political and economic levels. The problem also arises with their physical properties, such as lower degree of thermal degradation compared to some petroleum plastics.
The Slovak studio Crafting Plastics works with a biodegradable bioplastic (NUATAN) and has long been involved in its use not only in the creation of art objects, but also in its application in serial production.
In recent years, alternative sources have emerged that could replace synthetic plastics in the packaging industry in the future. For example, a material of animal origin MARINATEX uses residual products from the fishing industry. Unfortunately, fishing is now considered a major issue as an industry that negatively affects the harmony of flora and fauna in the oceans. Overfishing is thus one of the causes of global warming.5 There are also producers who use waste plant resources as raw materials for the creation of alternative plastics. For example, the Chip Board material is produced from potato waste or the Aqua Faba Foam material, which arises from the residual production of chickpeas. Seaweed has also proven to be a very interesting resource for the production of alternative plastics (Evoware) in recent years.
1 Photo by Masha Kotliarenko on Unsplash
2 HAFFMANS, Siem, et al. Products That Flow: Circular Business Models and Design Strategies for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. 1. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers, 2018, pp. 91-99. ISBN 978-90-6369-498-2.
3 KULA, Daniel, Elodie TERNAUX and Quentin HIRSINGER. Materiology: A Guide to the World of Materials and Technologies for Architects and Designers. Prague: Happy Materials, c2012. ISBN 978-80-260-053
4 HAFFMANS, ...
5 How does overfishing make climate change worse?. Greenpeace. [online]. Available from: https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/how-does-overfishing-make-climate-change-worse/
2 HAFFMANS, Siem, et al. Products That Flow: Circular Business Models and Design Strategies for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. 1. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers, 2018, pp. 91-99. ISBN 978-90-6369-498-2.
3 KULA, Daniel, Elodie TERNAUX and Quentin HIRSINGER. Materiology: A Guide to the World of Materials and Technologies for Architects and Designers. Prague: Happy Materials, c2012. ISBN 978-80-260-053
4 HAFFMANS, ...
5 How does overfishing make climate change worse?. Greenpeace. [online]. Available from: https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/how-does-overfishing-make-climate-change-worse/
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