Image Source: econyl.com

Can plastic waste, which we all encounter on the coasts and in the sea, become part of a new life cycle, contributing to development? And, above all, how is this possible? The answer to the above questions is provided by BlueCycle, a program that aims to reintegrate the plastics that end up in the seas in bulk, either from fishing or shipping.

The main issue of “ghost nets”

First, the main problem of plastics in the seas should be identified and it’s not only small plastic items such as bottles or straws but the many items abandoned by extensive fishing and shipping activities. "Ghost nets", as they are known, are nets that have fallen into disuse and are literally abandoned in the seas. With plastic straws making up only 1% of the plastics in the seas, the percentage of "ghost nets" amounts to about 46% of the plastics in the water, while other items such as ropes, fishing baskets or boxes, complete the whole and increasing number of junk gear used by the fishing industry. The consequences are tragic for the aquatic fauna since just one net can bring the death of 30 or even 40 animals trapped in it.

«Ghost nets» in deep waters. | Source: reddit.com

As can be expected, the problem is on a global scale since, according to data, although the practice of fishing with large nets has been banned in many countries, it is not rare to find illegal fishermen who insist on using them. Of course, the lack of information from the authorities of each country exacerbates the problem, without giving access to alternative forms of fishing. However, another question that arises is how it is possible to reuse these tons of plastic nets and at the same time start to inform the general public about the problem.

The formation of the blue cycle

The answer to the problem was given through an initiative of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, when, in collaboration with the architects of The New Raw, Panos Sakkas and Fotini Setakis, it proceeded with the production of the documentary Second Nature. With the documentary by filmmaker Dafni Matziarakis, the urgent need to raise public awareness of plastic waste began to emerge, but also for the first time, on a European scale, the foundations were laid for the development of a holistic program for the utilization of the abandoned waste. Thus, and with the aim of exploiting new technologies, the BlueCycle program was launched in 2019, under the auspices, once again, of the A. Laskaridis Foundation.

Source: mononews.gr

Of course, the power of the program is also due to its many collaborations with other approved organizations and institutions so that there is an interdisciplinary approach to the subject. Some of the organizations that contribute to this effort are the School of Chemical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (responsible for the quality control of the produced material), Plastikourgeio, AHPI etc.

How the program works

As Suzanna Laskaridis, creator of BlueCycle, states in mononews, "The new cycle is a new approach. It is the essence of the circular economy, which asks us to review the materials and all the objects around us, from the beginning of their life to its end. Waste is something we have chosen to create through the design process, a design flaw. We must approach each object differently from the beginning, in each phase of its "life", from design to execution and disposal, and this is the new life cycle. This doesn't just apply to plastic waste from fishing and shipping, we just started applying this approach to these specific materials."

In this way, BlueCycle's blue and circular economy program begins with the collection of items from waste gathered from the coasts and seas by volunteers of various organizations. After the waste is collected, it is transported to Aegean Rebreath's marine waste collection stations, which are located in many parts of Greece. Also, materials can be collected from the manufacturers and suppliers of fishing and marine equipment themselves.

An important and pivotal stage of the whole process is the program's laboratory in Piraeus, which has opened its doors to any researcher or interested party. There, the collected materials are processed and recycled. The procedures followed vary. The processing of plastic and its transformation into pellets for its reintegration into the industry and the study of the sustainability of the materials are some of the operations of the laboratory. In addition, the BlueCycle Lab also aims at the artistic transformation of plastics, while the Second Nature furniture series characterizes the philosophy of the program and the people behind it.

Source: mononews.gr

The products of the series are manufactured through digital design technology, using 3D robotic printing. All the artists in the project use plastic materials found in the sea, demonstrating the need to highlight a new type of business program aimed at sustainability, since all the objets d'arts produced by the workshop are fully recyclable.

Other BlueCycle actions

In addition to research, study and the effort to reintegrate plastics into the daily practices of industry or private life, the program mobilises public consciousness to protect the seas and prevent further marine pollution. Not only participating in coastal and marine cleanups, BlueCycle helps to encourage the creation of a return system for used materials, with the aim of reusing them based on the principles of circular economy.

We hope that similar actions will continue to take place and multiply so that there will be a more general mobilisation of the public as well as design professionals. The need to diversify the way objects are received -and especially the seemingly useless ones- is possible through their reuse and their reintegration into the cycle of life. Certainly, the BlueCycle program will not be a one-time act, but the trigger for a general shift.

Sources/ Further reading:

Δίχτυα Φάντασμα (Ghost Nets) - 46% των πλαστικών στη θάλασσα: https://veganworld.gr/ghost-nets-molynsi-thalasson-plastika-dyxtia-fantasma/.

Σουζάνα Λασκαρίδη: η αναγεννησιακή BlueCycle δημιουργεί οικολογική τέχνη. From: https://www.mononews.gr/agores/interviews/souzana-laskaridi-i-anagennisiaki-blue-cycle-dimiourgi-ikologiki-techni.

BLUECYCLE: https://www.visitgreece.gr/blog/travel-tips/1336/bluecycle/.

Detailed information about BlueCycle: https://bluecycle.com/ and on: http://www.laskaridisfoundation.org/en/bluecycle/.

Second Nature Documentary: https://vimeo.com/255920370.