Learning by Design

In Sofia Bulgaria we had the good fortune to stumble upon a 2nd annual week of artistic celebration entitled, “More or Less: Sofia Design Week.” Happening across Sofia, Bulgaria the international event organized by “One Magazine,” an Independent Bulgarian Bilingual Publication, gathers some of the most avant-garde names in contemporary product, communication, interactive, and graphic design. The 2010 themes reflected much of our own recent thinking and themes which have emerged from our blog.

As organizers wrote in exhibit introductions this year, “More or Less? That is the question this year. But what is the answer if we ask this question in terms of design? Under inevitable influence of long, difficult words such as ‘financial crisis’ and ‘global changes’,” in the second edition of Sofia Design week organizers aimed to ponder that broad question with the following list of short but not very easy questions:

More or Less?
Low-cost or long-lasting?
Practical or beautiful?
Simple or elaborate?
Less or more?

“Of course,” they concluded, “the more we argue, the less likely we are to find a real answer. But still, what about getting together?”

Before viewing or studying the background of their work, the organizers and participating designers were onto something significant. What does the simple question ’More or Less?’ mean in today’s world; in conditions of emerging or real international concern We found the whole project a success.

Several exhibits we saw deserve mention per relations to themes already discussed in our blog. The ideas grabbed our attention We spent time inspecting and discussing workshops vs. their provocative outcomes.

First off, there was an interactive workshop which we had missed; but, which we were able to enjoy the results of, entitled: “Do More with a Plastic Bag.” This workshop formulated by an outrageous ad agency KesselsKramer was based on their “do” initiative. It was created to be a reaction against passive consumerism. KesselsKramer asks in the workshop that each “do” product asks for greater involvement from its maker. So the “Do More with a Plastic Bag” asked all its participants for greater involvement by way of sticking, painting, cutting, weaving etc.

Do More with a Plastic Bag - Design Workshop

The work had taken place. We saw was the display of the workshop’s results. We saw products of different people’s interpretation of this “do” initiative. “Do More with a Plastic Bag.” workshop had already produced plastic bag clothes, costumes, reusable shopping bags, cups and plates, vases, shoes, and sculptural items of every different possible consideration. One of the designers of the workshop from KesselsKramer, Jennifer Skupin, developed a knitting kit which encourages making new, more durable plastic bags from your old ones. In most of our ’developed’ countries use of plastic bags is not even an afterthought to our consumption. Plastic bags accumulate under sinks and in cupboards. Do more: Reuse.

A different designer, Thomas Mailaender from France, took on the subject of tourism. His exhibit consisted of staging every possible tourist pose in front of an erupting volcano. His design project asked questions both about what we seek as tourists and what we do our tourism for. While his pictures were humorous, they showed lengths which people will go to with no clear goal of what is likely to be achieved.

Thomas Mailaender: Extreme Tourism

The exhibit gathered together various design specialties from professionals at varying levels of experience or notoriety in their craft. It appeared a very democratic and inclusive event. If you are going to be in Sofia late spring 2011 or beyond look for this interesting and far-thinking event. To see examples or read about this year’s event visit their website.

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Plastic Feet

In the last month, efforts to reduce our plastic footprint have increased. We try to be conscious, and it’s a fun new way of problem solving. We encourage each other and work together to reduce our imprint. The message gained from “Addicted to Plastic” and some of the topics covered in our earlier blog about plastic are impacting our actions more and more each day. The more we think, the more responsible we feel. The greater our efforts, the greater our motivation to strengthen these efforts.

We have about nine plastic bags that we reuse: a few are used to organize our clothes, one to keep my conditioner from exploding over the contents of my bag, and we carry several to use while shopping. Of the plastic bags that we carry and reuse, one is from the delicious Zam Zam bakery in Mumbai, India, where we bought boxes of cookies back in March. Another toughie was acquired at the Gaylord Hotel, dating from December of 2009. We also have the Gaylord to thank for two disposable (but actually incredibly strong and durable) plastic cups that we continue to carry and use with frequency.

When we left the United States, I packed two forks and two spoons with us, so we can refrain from accepting plastic utensils with to-go food. But I kick myself for not hanging onto a set of wooden chopsticks.

Now that we are in more westernized regions of the world, we have discontinued our bottled water purchases. We drink tap water from our Nalgene bottle, which we carry everywhere. This is made much easier in Turkey, for roadside water coolers are abundant, and many businesses also set public water coolers out on the sidewalks. The water is clean and completely safe for consumption.

My flip flops keep breaking, but I am obsessed with trying to find a replacement that is more eco-friendly: leather or wood or a combination. Soon I shall be barefoot. Cyprus had plenty of gorgeous Roman-style sandals, but I couldn’t justify the 80+ Euro price tags. I am a humble backpacker, after all!

Whenever possible, an easier feat in this part of the world, we try to purchase food in bulk and shop for homemade goods that are less likely to be wrapped in plastic. Yesterday we bought the most delicious cheese, a sour mozzarella that cuts like butter. We asked for 2 Turkish lira worth of this decadent cheese, and had the shopkeeper put the cheese in a Tupperware container that we carry with us. He barely batted an eye, but tried to put the plastic container inside of a plastic bag. Sorta defeats the purpose!

A jar that once had homemade peanut butter from Ghana is now filled with a homemade spicy tomato paste purchased here in Turkey, perfect for dressing up cheese and cucumber sandwiches.

Nathan has cut himself off from buying packaged ice cream from the cooler and now only indulges when hand-scooped cones are available.

But that’s not to say that it is always easy. In fact, some people are terribly confused by our actions. Some of them appear to be downright horrified when we pull out an obviously-used, rather wrinkled, perhaps even a bit dirty, plastic bag instead of accepting a new one. I have even had to argue, heatedly, against pushy salespeople armed with mountains of flimsy plastic bags. Our Point-It Book lacks images to communicate recycling or reusing or eco-friendliness.

I am desperate to find a translator; I feel that it will heighten our decisions and help people to understand our intentions. I’d like to write out a small card that reads: “Thank you for your understanding. We choose not to use plastic because we feel that it harms the environment.“ Please email me if you can help with this translation in Turkish. I will be needing Bulgarian, Croatian, Italian, Serbian, and French as well.

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Imagining Backpacking Without Plastic

Today I tried to imagine a backpacker without plastic…it’s hard to do! So much of our journey depends on plastic: purified water, laminated passports, debit cards, 3oz conditioner and sunscreen and insect repellant bottles. I would be nearly blind without my big plastic sunglasses in the bright Mediterranean sun. Our camera records visual memories, and our external hard drive stores writings and music and digital maps. Imagine trading in our laptop for a pencil (no rubber eraser) and un-bound paper. Imagine a sketch pad and paintbrush instead of a Sony cyber shot. Imagine toting ceramic or glass containers instead of Tupperware for leftovers and meal prep. Imagine no zippers on our backpacks or buttons on our pants. No swimsuits, no headphones, no Bandaids, no duct-tape, no sleeping bags, no playing cards, no headlamp. How drastically our trip would change if we culled everything that contained plastic.

And that extensive list simply encompasses just some of the material things that we carry with us. Our everyday travel consumes plastic at an alarming rate, even with a conscientious effort to decrease our usage. We carry extra plastic bags so as not to accumulate more, but shopkeepers all around the world like to double and triple bag things. Even if we purchase home-made, natural chips, they come in a bag, which is then placed in a bag. With a frequent language barrier, a request or charade that indicates, “please, we don’t need a bag” is lost in the gap. When we try to hand the plastic bag back, it usually is just thrown away, unused.

Although we have traveled through a few regions of the world that have placed a ban on plastic bags (Mussoorie and Jabalpur, India), and though many places choose to use alternatives (oftentimes in India we received nut mixes in handmade paper bags, served delicious beans in biodegradable bowls shaped from leaves, and handed FanMilk ice cream wrapped in sections of paper while in Ghana), efforts are not global. Sometimes it feels that the efforts of some are overshadowed by the inattention of others.

But the solution seems too simple not to be widespread….just stop using plastic bags! Place a huge tax on plastic bags, make them more expensive, charge people for them. Is it really so hard? Are we really so addicted to thin, easily-torn, completely disposable plastic bags? It seems that we are.

We are all connected, sometimes in positive ways, sometimes in negative ones. The plastic pollution of our seas and airspace impacts the entirety of our species. Last night we watched a documentary called “Addicted to Plastic.” While not the caliber of a Michael Moore or Lolis Eric Elie documentary, the movie makes you think. It makes you reflect and increase your awareness (and so associated impact) of plastic use.

It’s good to be cognizant and aware, even if you can’t completely change your behaviors. Make a list of all the plastic in your bathroom. In your kitchen. In your car. Simply think about it, for that is a step in the right evolutionary direction. And, when you are thinking green, think outside of the box. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, when our green friends and architects were disposing of newly found wealth, many chose to trade in gas guzzling SUVs for hybrid green vehicles. While their intentions were good, the truth is that the environmental cost of manufacturing that new product is much, much higher than simply driving the ‘older model’ another few years.

Some plastic parts of our lives are nearly impossible to change: wooden cellphones, or fred-flinstone, tire-less style cars are *slightly* impractical. But other simple solutions make a collective difference. Wooden reusable chopsticks are way cooler than plastic sporks. Canvas shopping bags are much classier than plastic ones. Try eating at the restaurant instead of getting take-out. Have you ever been to a store that has bulk shampoo instead of buying a new bottle every two months (shout-out to Periwinkle Provisions in Sweet Home, Ore.)?

Please share your tips and tricks to avoiding unnecessary plastic use. The comment feature in blogger is very tricky, using the “Anonymous” option for leaving a comment seems to have the best results.

Addicted to Plastic mentions several very cool companies, more information and links can be found below (but seriously, watch the movie on your plastic DVD player if you get the chance):

TieTek, LLC in Houston Texas: when the city stopped recycling, this company came up with a solution. TieTik takes any and all waste plastic (from tires to household plastics), melts it down, and turns the product into plastic railroad ties. These ties are then sold to railroad companies all over the country. TieTek ties last longer than wood, are impervious to termites, can be melted down and used again and again, and because all railroad ties are uniform in size, only one mold is used.

Agri-Plas, Inc. in Oregon: focuses especially on the agriculture waste products like baling twine, plastic flower pots, plastic sheeting. It processes 15% of the state’s waste. Baling twine is melted down to make truck bumpers, while flower pots are turned into more flower pots.

Interface, Inc. in Georgia: Recycles any and all plastic components into new carpets, efforts are powered by methane from the local landfill. “Landfills are the oil mines of our future!” the CEO says hopefully.

UniquEco in Nairobi, Kenya: Knits plastic bags into purses for resale. Employs locals and pick up plastic bag trash. Flip flops are collected from beaches and towns and then cored out to make curtains, jewelry, and knick-knacks.

Global Mamas in Ghana: recycles plastic water bags and other disposable trash into a variety of resale items.

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A Pledge Against Plastic

Mussoorie, India is a ‘hill station’ in India, set up by India and the British as an outpost for military encampments, and, during the hot season, as a cool place for rest. It has been in regular use as a honeymoon destination for 150 years. During our low-season visit, a chill is still in the air, and the weekdays are peaceful and bereft of many tourists. However, the weekend brings many newlyweds, feet still adorned with lingering henna dye, many posing for photographs against the dramatic Himalayan backdrop.

The winding mountain road that leads to Mussoorie is flanked by signs that iterate the importance of planting, raising, and preserving trees. People want to keep this peaceful hill station a green and relaxing place.

But, Mussoorie (and the entire state of Uttarakhand) have done something special. Something a little extra to make sure a clean, green, verdant environment greets the honeymooners who flock here from across India each summer, escaping the humid heat of the urban centers. The people of Mussoorie and the state of Uttarakhand have pledged not to use plastic bags as a way to save the environment, clearly stated by a large billboard covered with signatures.

Plastics, the people here recognize, do not biodegrade, Plastic bags blow around on windswept mountainsides and get stuck high in trees or on mountain bushes. They get stuck in fences and are strewn about by hungry monkeys and bored cows.

However, sometimes a billboard, even with many signatures, is not enough. Mussoorie has not yet defeated the plastic bag. Around town, we have encountered several unmitigated dumping areas, mostly filled with plastics. Shopkeepers still dispense in bags. But, when we bring Tupperware for fresh yogurt the man is pleased and happy to oblige. Although some new bags are still being added, the recirculation of bags here is strong; people reuse plastic bags until they disintegrate.

India definitely recycles. Indian recycling happens through individual family efforts to make a living and feed themselves. Across the continent of Asia, existing almost entirely on poverty, recycling ‘wala’ workers begin a process which is needed. It is near complete. Small residuals of plastics and items part plastic do disappear into landfills.

But, with hope that springs from pledges not to use plastic, our world takes a turn for the better.India needs a clean-up campaign. It will benefit the whole planet if we find models in all our countries to clean up and value the stewardship role we can play for our planet. Replacing plastics with biodegradable/reusable products is a great way to begin to see this role functioning more effectively.

Can we make pledges not to use plastic and plastic bags?

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