I believe that it’s important to consider the effect of our individual carbon footprint on the world. Did you know that the majority of plastic ever made still exists in some form? We heavily rely on plastic for everything including household, packaging, medical, structural, technological and functional purposes. Plastic can be made into and recycled into many useful forms. But unfortunately, not enough of it. In the 1970’s single-use plastics became ubiquitous in households as we slowly eased into lifestyles that focused on throwaway convenience. Much of the plastic packaging from products we consume is not recycled. No matter how much we stick to our city recycling guidelines, most plastic packaging ends-up in landfill or lakes, rivers, oceans and our corresponding ecosystems. I believe that by thinking critically and creatively, we can reduce the negative impact of plastic by:
- Giving end-of-life items a new life by “upcycling”;
- Consciously choosing to avoid products with excess or single-use packaging (thereby reducing the demand for it);
- Looking at everything we buy with a “cradle-to-grave” perspective by asking ourselves:
- “Where will this product or its packaging ultimately end-up when I’m finished with it?”
- “Is there a sustainable way for me to continue to use this product, such as refilling/reusing?”
- “How can I reduce any negative environmental impact created by my buying decision?”
As the only home coffee drinker in my household, I want to reduce the impact created by my choice. Here you will find my newest series of mixed media upcycled art, in which I have repurposed every part of my used aluminium coffee pods, including coffee grounds and tinfoil. I have “artcycled” all elements of my coffee consumption into my whimsical creations, celebrating my love of both coffee and creating art from everyday objects we normally discard. As a highly renewable material, aluminium pods can be sent back to the company for proper recycling, but I prefer to use them for their jeweled tones. If you look closely, you will also find things like, foil lids, plastic bags and many other single-use food packaging that would normally end up in our waste stream. By looking at these items differently and considering their shapes and forms, it’s possible to incorporate them into art that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
