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.
Black HDPE was chosen due to the issues it permeates as an undesirable recyclable material and for its presence as waste in today's society. Black plastic is recycled at a considerably lower rate compared to polymers of other colours, providing an opportunity for design intervention through a material crisis. The objects are made by extruding plastic pellets into open moulds, continuously raising the material on top of itself. This process of composition results in individualised form, where the inconsistencies in the material and process add to the nature of the object. This method displaces large volumes of plastic while maintaining the opportunity to be continually recycled through a new life cycle.
Black HDPE was chosen due to the issues it permeates as an undesirable recyclable material and for its presence as waste in today's society. Black plastic is recycled at a considerably lower rate compared to polymers of other colours, providing an opportunity for design intervention through a material crisis. The objects are made by extruding plastic pellets into open moulds, continuously raising the material on top of itself. This process of composition results in individualised form, where the inconsistencies in the material and process add to the nature of the object. This method displaces large volumes of plastic while maintaining the opportunity to be continually recycled through a new life cycle.
“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
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.
Although physical outcomes are clearly defined, the project is additionally trying to provoke conversation around the larger issue of plastic waste and our society’s unscrupulous consumption. The product aims to be provocative, prompting viewers to questions the objects past, present, and future. A demonstration of up-cycling low valued materials into high value long life products through a defined process.
The Saturation Point offers an alternative form of ownership when retaining one of the recycled plastic products. Rather than owning the object, the user is investing in the material. testing on HDPE demonstrated that it could be recycled multiple times without losing its core molecular properties and thus, can be broken back down into its constituent parts and remoulded into new useable objects. (Smith K, 2020)
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)
35
5L Oil drums
displaced per stool
