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plastic pollution

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Delicate paper corals illuminate the oceans plastic crisis
Art

Delicate Paper Corals Illuminate the Ocean’s Plastic Crisis

Art

Franco-Croatian artist Ana Brecevic’s latest series,Β Plasticum, transforms recycled paper and upcycled fabrics into hauntingly beautiful representations of bleached corals and sea fans.

Adorned with baubles resembling plastic debris, these sculptures juxtapose the fragility of marine ecosystems with the pervasive threat of ocean pollution.

Through meticulous craftsmanship and sustainable materials, Brecevic’s work serves as a poignant commentary on humanity’s impact on the oceans.

It’s urging viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between nature’s beauty and environmental degradation.Β 

See more of Brecevic’s beautiful and impactful work on her website.

Images Β© Copyright Ana Brecevic. Used with artist’s permission.

Close-up of a decorative coral sculpture made from recycled paper and upcycled fabrics, featuring colorful baubles that resemble plastic debris.
Intricate art piece resembling coral with delicate patterns made from recycled paper and adorned with colorful plastic-like elements, emphasizing the themes of ocean pollution and environmental fragility.
Intricate paper art resembling bleached coral with colorful baubles depicting plastic debris, presented in a framed display.
Close-up of a sculpture made from recycled materials, featuring coral-like patterns and colorful plastic elements, representing ocean pollution and marine fragility.
Close-up of an artistic representation of coral made from recycled materials, showcasing intricate designs and colorful plastic debris resembling ocean pollution.
A textured artwork depicting a coral tree made from recycled paper, adorned with colorful baubles resembling plastic debris.
An artist holding a delicate, intricately cut white sculpture resembling coral branches against a neutral background.
A detailed artwork featuring cut-out patterns resembling coral branches, crafted from recycled paper, with colorful plastic debris scattered throughout, highlighting the theme of ocean pollution.
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General

Plastic Pollution Becoming So Prevalent that Microbes are Evolving to Eat It

General

In a strange and sobering twist, plastic pollution is becoming so prevalent on earth that tiny microbes are evolving to be able to consume it.

It sounds like a glimpse of hope, where microbes might be the answer to all of the waste in the oceans, but in reality, the scale of the problem is far too big for microscopic microbes to tackle alone.

Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have discovered the evolution of the microbes, which are found in greater concentration in areas with more pollution.

It seems as though the microbes are able to make a dent in micro plastics, and scientists will study these microbes, to see if they could potentially be engineered to help tackle the problem.

β€œWe found multiple lines of evidence supporting the fact that the global microbiome’s plastic-degrading potential correlates strongly with measurements of environmental plastic pollution β€” a significant demonstration of how the environment is responding to the pressures we are placing on it”

Every year around 8 million tonnes of plastic escapes into the world’s oceans.

β€œThe next step would be to test the most promising enzyme candidates in the lab to closely investigate their properties and the rate of plastic degradation they can achieve. From there you could engineer microbial communities with targeted degrading functions for specific polymer types,” explains Aleksej Zelezniak.

Via Treehugger:

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3D

Powerful and Clever Animation Shows the Horror of Ocean Plastic and Its Effect on Sea Life

3D

Not only are oceans around the world in trouble due to rising temperatures and coral bleaching, but plastic pollution has reached just about every aspect of sea life. Β We hear about seabirds with huge amounts of plastic bits in their stomachs. Endangered sea turtles tangled in nets and other debris. A giant Sperm Whale was ever killed after ingesting over 54 pounds of plastic waste.

Sadly, these horrific facts don’t seem to be making a dent in the stream of waste that is entering the ocean. Β Consumption is continuing to rise, and animals are paying the price.

This powerful animation called Selfish hopes to drive the point home, with an ironic twist on a sushi chef preparing a meal. Β We see the accomplished chef preparing his ingredients, which instead of fresh fish, are a laundry container, and a bunch of plastic straws. Β He delicately chops them up, serving them to his aghast clientele, which include the fated seabirds and ocean dwelling critters.

Also included in the animation are powerful stats, mentioning not just the way animals are affected, but humans too. Those of us that eat seafood are likely to ingest over 11,000 pieces of micro-plastics every year.

Created by Chen, PoChien, It’s a sobering yet needed look at our global challenge of reducing or eliminating our plastic waste.

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Art

Living With Microplastics, A Series

Art

By now you’ve heard that plastics have entered just about every part of our lives, from rivers and streams, to even the stomachs of fish that live on the bottom of the oceans. It’s a sad and sobering reality, but what does it mean?

To help bring the problem into focus, Sweet Sneak Studio has a photo series where plastic inhabits our everyday items, from a pint of beer to a sushi roll. With a touch of humor and a fair amount of realism, their work helps to further shed light on the issue that is plastic waste and Microplastic pollution. Β Created for the Copenhagen Zoo, it’s an effective series.Β Via Dezeen:

microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_1.5microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_1microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_2microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_3.5microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_3microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_4microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_5microplastic-photos-sweet-sneak-studio_6

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Food & Drink

Your Coffee Cup, Made Out of Coffee

Food & Drink

https://vimeo.com/184668625

Starbucks gained attention recently by declaring they’re moving to a plastic straw-free future, which is a great small step toward less plastic waste. But what if the coffee cup could be pushed a lot further? That’s the thought being Kaffeeform, coffee cups which is made from recycled coffee grounds themselves. The cups use leftover coffee grounds, mixed with a biopolymer to make them reusable, dishwasher safe, yet also biodegradable and left with a slight coffee scent. It’s an ingenious solution to a problem of waste and pollution, and one that inspires us to think more creatively. The cups are available for sale starting at $18. Via Yanko Design:

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