Week 11: Zero Waste and Sustainability

This week I have focused on the assigned reading by Robert Crocker:

Chapter 1. ‘Somebody Else’s Problem’: Consumer Culture, Waste and Behaviour Change: the Case of Walking

"We seem to be able to focus only on the ‘consumption phase’ in the lifecycle of any particular domain. Everything else outside the parameters of what we now take for granted becomes ‘somebody else’s problem’, something perhaps ‘they’ should do something about, sooner or later."

This in particular is very relevant to graphic design.  We are designing for the consumers (the public), which then makes us the “they” and the “somebody else”.  When in relation to sustainability and creating a more environmentally friendly world, it rests on us.  No one else is going to do it! It is our job to make things right, the first time, for everyone.

"While even as children we can identify the logos and brands of well-known products, and retell the simple myths they recount, the real origins, life-cycle, technical function in use, and ‘end-of-life’ destination of these same products and services, has been skilfully airbrushed out of the picture."

Yet another great point has been made.  Although we know what brand a logo represents, do we really know who they are and what they do? No.  We see them on face value, and only relate them to the product(s) in front of us.  It would be nice if we could come out and tell people exactly what process the products go through, and how the wastage wont breakdown for hundreds of years, but I do not believe the companies we design for would be too happy about this information becoming factual/proven public knowledge.  Instead it benefits them for it to remain as nothing more than an unproven rumor.
 
This is where we as designers come in and change the way things are being done.  We are the ones who should always be looking towards the end game, and making sure things are sustainable from start to finish (in the dump). We are that somebody else.

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Another point that I found valuable is that we as a society only care about things and what happens to them once they are in our possession.  What has happened to them in the factory, such as how they were made and transported, does not matter to us.  The same goes for once we have finished with something, and throw it away.  Once something has been tossed, it is then no longer ours, meaning it is no longer our problem but instead someone else's problem.  Who that someone else is? No one knows. 

Now this is one problem that is somewhat out of a graphic designers control, but is none the less an issue which we as a society need to address.

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As mentioned by Crocker, there is a gigantic pile of trash out there floating in our ocean (the Pacific Ocean).  The pile of trash is so big, that is can be seen from space!!
 
Now the real question is, who does this particular problem belong to? "NOT US!!" we all scream.  Is it not floating closer to this country, making it their problem? But is it not drifting to wards this country, meaning it will soon be theirs? (The previous country then breathes a sigh of relief).  There is no accountability anymore!

A floating dump, so big it can be seen from space, isn't just one person or nations problem.  There is probably something floating amongst it all that may have once passed through our hands.

The Ocean belongs to no one, yet everyone at the same time, and we all need to do something about it.  We as a society need to take accountability and become that "they" and "someone else".  As graphic designers, we can do our best to create biodegradable products, which might break down in 6 months or even a year.  BUT that is still 6 months! 182.5 days to be exact.
 
That is more than enough time for a marine/land animal or bird to accidentally eat.

We always need to be thinking, and improving our ways.  We can not afford to become complacent.  This is the only planet we have (at the moment).

Really, we all need to become the Lorax..

Crocker, R. (2011). “‘Somebody Else’s Problem’: consumer culture, waste and behaviour change: the case of walking”, in S. Lehmann and R. Crocker (eds), Designing for Zero Waste: consumption, technologies and the built environment. Earthscan: London.

"Marine Litter in Europe Seas: Social Awareness and CO-Responsibility." Marin søppelutstilling - Kunstgata i Hvaler Rådhus. 2016. https://www.fredrikstadoghvaler.no/hva-skjer/2016/2/2/marin-sppelutstilling-kunstgata-i-hvaler-rdhus.

Dr. Seuss. The Lorax. United States: Random House, 1971.