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Being Plastic
Summary
Plastic is everywhere now — even in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat — with tiny plastic particles finding their way into our bodies. This paper points out that buildings and construction are a huge source of this problem, since 14% of all plastic made each year goes into building materials, and calls on designers to use natural materials instead of synthetic plastics to help protect our health and the environment.
We live in the Plasticene—amidst plastic air, water, and soil. Microplastics are found on the highest mountain and in the deepest ocean trench. Micro and nano plastics enter our bodies through inhalation and absorption. Many building components are made of synthetic plastic and the construction industry is responsible for 14% of yearly plastic output. Designers can help to change this tragic trajectory by creatively exploring natural polymers and valuing abundant life over the slow asphyxiation of all living things by synthetic plastics.