Plastic (In)Dependence

It is difficult to imagine the world without plastic. We are surrounded by it, and the recent discovery that microparticles have entered the food chain means it is even inside us. Massive consumption of plastic has grown over the last century along with society’s awareness of its toxic trail: from its production using fossil fuels to its final resting place in landfills, rivers and oceans. How we deal with our dependence on this ubiquitous material is crucial for the conservation of the environment and biodiversity. Architects and designers together with different industries are playing an essential role in this endeavor by investigating alternative materials and construction methods that will contribute to a new vision for the future.