Fuse Plastic: Waste as Material

What can a plastic Bag Become?

Plastic bags are everywhere.

We carry things home in them, wrap things in them, and often discard them once they have served their purpose. They are so familiar that we rarely stop to look closely at the material itself.

But what happens when we do?

What is Fused Plastic?

Fused plastic is a process where layers of suitable plastic (LDPE; Low-Density Polyethylene) are carefully combined using heat.

Under heat, the layers begin to bond together, transforming thin pieces of plastic into a thicker and more durable sheet. Something that once felt flimsy can begin to behave almost like fabric and it can be cut, folded, layered and even sewn.

Playing with Colour, Layers and Texture

Colour and texture play starts to happen in the process of it ; printed graphics become distorted, transparent areas reveal layers underneath, some parts shrink more than others and colours overlap in unexpected ways.

There are so many ways that one can “concoct a recipe”. You could start with a weave, or start with different pieces that can be cut, torn or arranged. You could decide to keep parts of the design on a bag, or place them at random. The pile of seemingly unrelated pieces can gradually become a composition of colour, shape and texture.

“Cradle to Cradle” Sustainability Can Begin with Curiosity

Sustainability doesn’t always need a perfect answer for now. It can be a balance between what is possible for now. When we make a lanyard, or a coaster or a notebook, we inevitably introduce new materials in the making of things. However, with this process, we

• begin to pay closer attention to the things already around us

• ask what we could use less of

• how can we use the material in more diversified ways?

This philosophy aligns more to what William McDonough and Michael Braungart proposes. Redesigning systems will take time, but for now, we can find small ways to build these changes.