With the growing amount of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean, more and more waste solutions are needed. Non-biodegradable waste, largely plastics, have been filling up the sea for decades, creating the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is a huge problem for islands like Samoa, which have had to ban the consumption of seafood and are concerned about the critical condition of their drinking water.
With no recycling methods existing on the island, design student Lionel Taito-Matamua came up with creative waste solutions for Samoa. His thesis outlines the use of this ocean trash as 3D-printing materials, integrated such products into society through normative practices. By integrating 3D-printing into the island's education systems and traditional gift-giving practice, the garbage could be repurposed and the island's surrounding water finally cleaned.
3D-Printing Waste Solutions
This Thesis Turns Pacific Ocean Waste into Materials for 3D-Printing
Trend Themes
1. Ocean Plastic Recycling - Developing innovative methods to repurpose ocean plastic as 3D-printing materials creates opportunities for reducing waste and cleaning up the environment.
2. Education Technology Integration - Integrating 3D-printing into education systems allows for the exploration of creative and sustainable solutions while teaching future generations about environmental responsibility.
3. Sustainable Gift-giving Practices - Using 3D-printing to create gifts from recycled ocean plastic promotes environmentally-friendly traditions and reduces the demand for products made from new materials.
Industry Implications
1. Environmental Sustainability - The environmental sustainability industry can capitalize on the development and implementation of innovative recycling methods to repurpose ocean plastic waste.
2. Education Technology - The education technology industry can seize the opportunity to integrate 3D-printing into educational systems, offering new learning experiences and promoting sustainable practices.
3. Manufacturing and Gifting - The manufacturing and gifting industries can tap into the trend of using 3D-printing to create gifts from recycled ocean plastic, catering to environmentally-conscious consumers.