Plastic is considered a cheap material that is easily discarded of. With all its consequences. We currently realise the urgency of plastic as the cause of an environmental problem, but at the same time it is hard to imagine a world without it. For example, think of applications in the medical field, in the field of electricity, in cars and aircrafts and in household appliances.
Designers can show us how to look at plastic differently. By developing alternatives. By designing plastic products that are longer lasting, easier to separate and therefore easier to recycle. By devising methods and systems to collect plastic in a meaningful way. By reusing and upcycling plastic in new products. And, certainly, also when it comes to creating (emotional) value so that users experience plastic products differently.
In a surprising and stimulating way, the Embassy of Rethinking Plastic shows the possibilities related to plastic, how to deal with it differently, and what kind of alternatives there are. Think of lampshades made from agricultural waste, plastic-like material based on human hair, and flowerpots made from recycled bottle caps fished from the Amsterdam canals.
In addition to changing exhibitions, lectures and workshops, Yksi Expo and the Embassy of Rethinking Plastic have initiated the Rethinking Plastic Academy, an in-depth programme for design students. Twelve Media Art & Performance students from Koning Willem I College (Den Bosch) have joined, as well as seven excellent students from SintLucas (Boxtel/Eindhoven). On June 18, they will present their works to a jury. The selected works will be on display at Yksi Expo during Dutch Design Week 2021.
