Opinion
This Local Loops capstone project addresses the environmental issue of plastic waste, specifically post-consumer plastic such as single-use items and 3D printing scraps. By working with a community driven circular economy model, centered locally within the Central Ohio area. The initiative explores how design can expand the end-of-life for plastic
Numbers
The Local loops team worked on crafting a digital survey that was shared through our connection with CNDC. They attached the link onto their weekly newsletter and shared through their social media posts. The main audience of this was individuals and businesses local to Columbus, Ohio who are connected to
Business
This design conjecture is pulled from the Business literary reviews. Lego hitting record revenue, shows that companies that recycle can thrive in this society, yet other company examples, like Amazon and many others, consistently bypass environmental laws for the ease of dumping products into landfills. Additionally, consumers have a positive
Science & Tech
This Design conjecture comes from the Sciences and Technology literary reviews. These pieces touched on some interesting phases of the recycling process. The new sea robots polypropylene plastics, where they are refi show initiatives in technology to gather trash and pollution out of our oceans. Additionally, there are innovations in
Arts & Lifestyle
This design conjecture pulls from the Arts and Culture literary reviews. These works stress the importance of creative thinking. Andrew Ashley highlights the importance of whimsy within the cityscape, and similarly another article touches on the benefits of public art including improving perceived safety, inclusion, economy, and quality of life.
Special Interest
My special interest in the Local Loops Capstone project is the effects of Microplastics on the environmental and human health. This is a serious issue with a range of current discussion ranging from catastrophizing to dismissive. There are many unknowns about the full effects of microplastics. Many issues found in
Special Interest
This article gives more actionable insights into the current microplastics problem from the perspective of everyday people’s concerns. It can feel overwhelming living in a world so permeated by plastic that someone cannot see or avoid. The teeny tiny pieces of plastic have been found in everything from drinking
Special Interest
Plants are a living thing, so how are they and global agriculture affected uniquely by the rise in microplastics? Researchers have discovered that microplastic particles, which are ever present in our global environment, can lower a plant’s ability to carry out photosynthesis. The reduction of a vital biological process
Special Interest
This article explores the conversations on microplastics from a different source. This article by Harvard medical, aims to stir its readers into action and uses strong evacuation language to press the dangers of microplastics. The study of whether and how microplastics — particles smaller than 5 millimeters that slough off plastic
Special Interest
This article explores the conversations on microplastics from different source. This article is by a plastic manufacturers organization that currently profits on the production of plastic products. Microplastics are plastic particles, generally considered a subset of plastic debris, characterized by size: from 5 millimeters (mm) down to the nanometer range.
Special Interest
In general, microplastics are synthetic polymer compounds that form when large plastic materials are fragmented and micronized to a size ≤5 mm. (Lee) When considering large scale environmental and human health impacts of microplastic, it is important to know where it is coming from to get at its source. In
Science & Tech
Plastic waste is one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time. Less than 10 percent of the plastic we use is recycled, and there’s currently an estimated 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world. But what would happen if we stopped thinking of plastic