WASTE FUTURES 001
Research - 12.10.23
Waste Futures
WaterBoys
001
The global pandemic has brought mask waste to the forefront as a major challenge for our local communities. Our first research series titled "Waste Futures," explores our complex relationship with waste, misunderstandings surrounding municipal waste management, the origins of disposable masks in our waste stream, and their future within local value chains. "Waste Futures" embodies our studio's approach to explore and contextualize emerging design futures, while re-imagining opportunities that prioritize community, circular applications, and the creation of value from otherwise low-value materials.
The Psychology of Waste
As WaterBoys, our exploration of "Waste Futures" has led us to understand the psychology behind littering and waste creation. Often, these actions stem from convenience rather than a desire to harm the environment directly. We recognize that negative waste behaviors, such as littering, are heavily influenced by environmental cues and design. While design significantly shapes our waste habits, personal responsibility also plays a crucial part, often driven by convenience rather than direct malice toward the environment or the community. Our research has revealed that individuals are more likely to litter when they feel a low sense of ownership of their environment. Additionally, the presence of litter tends to perpetuate further littering behaviors, impacting community morale and mood. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designers. Our waste behaviors are highly influenced by design cues from our community and residents, shaping outcomes for better or worse. This understanding drives our efforts to create design applications and concepts that promote positive waste behaviors, such as disposal, recycling, and reuse, while also addressing convenience factors that may undermine these behaviors.
The Psychology of Waste
As WaterBoys, our exploration of "Waste Futures" has led us to understand the psychology behind littering and waste creation. Often, these actions stem from convenience rather than a desire to harm the environment directly. We recognize that negative waste behaviors, such as littering, are heavily influenced by environmental cues and design. While design significantly shapes our waste habits, personal responsibility also plays a crucial part, often driven by convenience rather than direct malice toward the environment or the community. Our research has revealed that individuals are more likely to litter when they feel a low sense of ownership of their environment. Additionally, the presence of litter tends to perpetuate further littering behaviors, impacting community morale and mood. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designers. Our waste behaviors are highly influenced by design cues from our community and residents, shaping outcomes for better or worse. This understanding drives our efforts to create design applications and concepts that promote positive waste behaviors, such as disposal, recycling, and reuse, while also addressing convenience factors that may undermine these behaviors.
The Psychology of Waste
As WaterBoys, our exploration of "Waste Futures" has led us to understand the psychology behind littering and waste creation. Often, these actions stem from convenience rather than a desire to harm the environment directly. We recognize that negative waste behaviors, such as littering, are heavily influenced by environmental cues and design. While design significantly shapes our waste habits, personal responsibility also plays a crucial part, often driven by convenience rather than direct malice toward the environment or the community. Our research has revealed that individuals are more likely to litter when they feel a low sense of ownership of their environment. Additionally, the presence of litter tends to perpetuate further littering behaviors, impacting community morale and mood. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designers. Our waste behaviors are highly influenced by design cues from our community and residents, shaping outcomes for better or worse. This understanding drives our efforts to create design applications and concepts that promote positive waste behaviors, such as disposal, recycling, and reuse, while also addressing convenience factors that may undermine these behaviors.
A history of disposability
Throughout history, our urban communities have cultivated a culture centered on convenience, posing a significant challenge to sustainability and our approach to waste. A major outcome of this challenge has been our embrace and dependence on disposability over reuse. An example of our journey toward disposability is the evolution of the cotton face mask. Originally utilized in early medicine, these masks have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, particularly due to the global pandemic. Initially designed for reuse, there was a notable shift within hospitals toward a "total disposable system," often attributed to advancements in technology and manufacturing. However, what's often overlooked is the profound influence of consumer culture on medicine and health, driving the artificial demand for disposability.
A history of disposability
Throughout history, our urban communities have cultivated a culture centered on convenience, posing a significant challenge to sustainability and our approach to waste. A major outcome of this challenge has been our embrace and dependence on disposability over reuse. An example of our journey toward disposability is the evolution of the cotton face mask. Originally utilized in early medicine, these masks have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, particularly due to the global pandemic. Initially designed for reuse, there was a notable shift within hospitals toward a "total disposable system," often attributed to advancements in technology and manufacturing. However, what's often overlooked is the profound influence of consumer culture on medicine and health, driving the artificial demand for disposability.
A history of disposability
Throughout history, our urban communities have cultivated a culture centered on convenience, posing a significant challenge to sustainability and our approach to waste. A major outcome of this challenge has been our embrace and dependence on disposability over reuse. An example of our journey toward disposability is the evolution of the cotton face mask. Originally utilized in early medicine, these masks have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, particularly due to the global pandemic. Initially designed for reuse, there was a notable shift within hospitals toward a "total disposable system," often attributed to advancements in technology and manufacturing. However, what's often overlooked is the profound influence of consumer culture on medicine and health, driving the artificial demand for disposability.
Initially perceived as convenient and advantageous, disposables offered solutions to various challenges, including reducing labor costs and streamlining supply management. However, the primary driver behind their widespread adoption was the aggressive marketing campaigns targeting healthcare workers and consumers alike. In the absence of commercially available reusable cotton masks, recent studies have compared homemade masks with industrially produced disposable ones, typically favoring the latter. Unfortunately, this further reinforced the perception that reusable masks were inferior, hindering research into well-designed, industrially manufactured alternatives. Despite the shift toward disposables, the underlying motivation has always been convenience and perceived value. While we've been led to believe that disposable goods are easier to use, manage, and dispose of, the necessary behaviors and systems to manage resulting waste have not been adequately reinforced, updated, or made relevant. Our exploration of "waste futures" has enabled us to reimagine disposability. By developing new concepts and projects such as WSTED, we aim to challenge the existing narrative that promotes disposability while neglecting the waste challenges it poses. We view this adaptation as the application of innovative design solutions and an approach that can foster dialogue on sustainability and convenience, while also encouraging responsible waste management practices at the community level.
Initially perceived as convenient and advantageous, disposables offered solutions to various challenges, including reducing labor costs and streamlining supply management. However, the primary driver behind their widespread adoption was the aggressive marketing campaigns targeting healthcare workers and consumers alike. In the absence of commercially available reusable cotton masks, recent studies have compared homemade masks with industrially produced disposable ones, typically favoring the latter. Unfortunately, this further reinforced the perception that reusable masks were inferior, hindering research into well-designed, industrially manufactured alternatives. Despite the shift toward disposables, the underlying motivation has always been convenience and perceived value. While we've been led to believe that disposable goods are easier to use, manage, and dispose of, the necessary behaviors and systems to manage resulting waste have not been adequately reinforced, updated, or made relevant. Our exploration of "waste futures" has enabled us to reimagine disposability. By developing new concepts and projects such as WSTED, we aim to challenge the existing narrative that promotes disposability while neglecting the waste challenges it poses. We view this adaptation as the application of innovative design solutions and an approach that can foster dialogue on sustainability and convenience, while also encouraging responsible waste management practices at the community level.
Initially perceived as convenient and advantageous, disposables offered solutions to various challenges, including reducing labor costs and streamlining supply management. However, the primary driver behind their widespread adoption was the aggressive marketing campaigns targeting healthcare workers and consumers alike. In the absence of commercially available reusable cotton masks, recent studies have compared homemade masks with industrially produced disposable ones, typically favoring the latter. Unfortunately, this further reinforced the perception that reusable masks were inferior, hindering research into well-designed, industrially manufactured alternatives. Despite the shift toward disposables, the underlying motivation has always been convenience and perceived value. While we've been led to believe that disposable goods are easier to use, manage, and dispose of, the necessary behaviors and systems to manage resulting waste have not been adequately reinforced, updated, or made relevant. Our exploration of "waste futures" has enabled us to reimagine disposability. By developing new concepts and projects such as WSTED, we aim to challenge the existing narrative that promotes disposability while neglecting the waste challenges it poses. We view this adaptation as the application of innovative design solutions and an approach that can foster dialogue on sustainability and convenience, while also encouraging responsible waste management practices at the community level.
ISSUE 001
Researched by: Its The WaterBoys
Author: Dominic Akerele
WaterBoys is a design studio committed to re-imagining more resilient cities. We specialize in design applications focused on waste, water, and sustainability exploring innovative solutions for urban challenges. Collaborating with small businesses, artists, and creatives, we develop design research and create products, services, and brand identities for a more sustainable future.
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Email: Itsthewaterboys@gmail.com
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