The Plasticity Forum brings its big discussion on the future of plastic sustainability to London, giving the design community a chance to learn how to lead the brands they work for, and products they develop, into a circular economy, where waste becomes a valuable asset. Proudly part of the London Design Festival (LDF), the Plasticity Forum will inspire a segment of industry which is often missing at sustainability related discussions - the design community.
Plastic pollution may be one of the biggest looming challenges of our time, but also one of the exciting opportunities when new design solutions are scaled across industries. France's recent announcement to ban all plastic plates, cups and cutlery by 2020, and the first country to do so, is evidence of the recognition of the ills that plastic pollution creates.
Some of the global expert speakers in this uniquely focused event, which covers a wide spectrum of topics within the plastic sustainability space, include Guilio Bonazzi, CEO of AquaFil, Chris Grantham, Circular Economy Portfolio Director, IDEO, Quentin Drewell, UK Circular Economy Lead - Accenture, Willem De Vos, CEO - Society of Plastics Engineers, Simon Widmer, Project Manager of Circular Design - Ellen MacCarthur Foundation, David Wilson, Director - Vanden Recycling, and Pankaj Pancholi, President - Just Egg, who makes a new polymer additive from egg shells.
The event is positioned as part of the London Design Festival because often the design community is not involved with sustainability discussions, options and opportunities. As a result, they may not realize all of the issues and complexities which are associated with plastic vis-à-vis materials, processes and recycled content. Entrepreneurs, innovators and designers will be part of Plasticity, one of the biggest sustainability events of the LDF.
Held most recently this past spring in Shanghai, the event brings together experts from across the plastics spectrum to discuss innovation and the dynamics of scaling processes, materials and recycling to reduce waste and create value.
"Plastic is an incredibly valuable material due to its light weight, durability and versatile properties, but it is but complex to handle when thrown away, exactly because of these qualities, and the lack of infrastructure in waste and recycling around the world that has not kept pace with the material's broad use," says Doug Woodring, Plasticity's Founder. It is estimated that over 8 million tons of plastic makes its way to the ocean each year.
The event will offer "a big conversation on the future of plastic," and discuss where opportunities can be created related to recycled content, resource recovery, job creation and waste reduction.
"You can read all you like about the importance of change, but nothing is more motivating than the visceral experience of seeing, feeling and breathing it, and this event helps to bring the designers into that frame of reference for inspiring new shifts in plastic waste reduction and sustainability," Says Chris Grantham, Circular Economy Portfolio Director at IDEO.
See further information about the event here or view this brief video recap of the Plasticity Forum in Shanghai in April. You can also view the trailer and slide show.
