project two

Upcycling solutions can be functional, beautiful and renewable. In the last decade there has been an increasing amount of attention on converting industrial waste materials into products of higher perceived value or environmental value. Designers can create solutions that meet the needs of users and help improve environmental performance.

Australia used 7 billion bags in 2007, 3.6 billion of these were lightweight single use high density polyethylene (HDPE) bags. 2.96 billion of these came from supermarkets, while the others were used by fast food restaurants, service stations, convenience stores and liquor stores and other shops. They are popular with consumers as they are functional, lightweight, convenient, cheap and a hygienic way to transport and carry food and groceries. Although plastic bags only make up a small percent of landfill they have a significant impact on the environment. Plastic bags can take up to a thousand years to fully break down, and pose a huge threat to fauna on land and sea, they are often mistaken for jellyfish in the ocean.

The collection of plastic bags can be hazardous and often unfruitful, bags from land fill are often contaminated and cleaning requires great amounts of energy and chemical sanitation processes. However a collection system, another bin during council rubbish days or bins which are available at retail locations that distribute plastic bags, would greatly reduce the chance of contamination and mixing other unwanted grades of plastic.

After experimenting and manipulating plastic bags, I discovered that they become a fabric/textile when pressed and heated together. One of the its interesting properties when properly manipulated was it is very good at diffusing light. Beautiful organic veins are created when the sheets shrink just as they reach melting point. I thought this was perfect for creating a light. After more experimenting I discovered that heat guns can also be used to form and shape the sheets around pre-existing forms like wooden vases. It again transformed into a textured organic textile perfect for diffusing light. My light consists of a diffuser and a simplified Perspex frame, it is a four piece design with interlocking arms, I was aiming for maximum light diffusion and elegance.

Mass production would see my design manufactured in a number of different processes. The plastic bags would not have their ends cut off, instead they would be layed out in large sheets, several layers deep then pressed with much larger hot metal plates. The sheets would then be cut down into stripes which are then wrapped on metal forms and heated in very low temperature furnaces. The frames would be constructed from laser cut Perspex.