By Joanne Sim

Vivid Sydney has finished, during this 22-day festival, Cundall used our installation as a chance to highlight the problem with our reliance in plastic on the world’s habitat. Plastic is a hot topic with the following new stories hitting the headlines during the short period of Vivid, that we thought we would share.

Forty-year-old KFC plastic bag found in Sunshine Coast waterway
A reminder that although most plastic is designed for single use but still has a lasting impact.  https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/40-year-old-kfc-plastic-bag-found-in-sunshine-coast-waterway-20190614-p51xo7.html

People eat a ‘credit card’ size worth of plastic each week
“Not only are plastics polluting our oceans and waterways and killing marine life – it’s in all of us and we can’t escape consuming plastics,” WWF International’s director general Marco Lambertini said. https://www.smh.com.au/national/people-eat-a-credit-card-size-worth-of-plastic-each-week-20190612-p51wx6.html

Wild bees are building their homes from plastic—and scientists aren’t sure why
“I think it’s really sad, it’s another example of the rampant use of materials that end up in places we don’t intend them to.” Hollis Woodard, an entomologist who studies bees at the University of California Riversides Woodard Lab. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/wild-bees-building-homes-from-plastic/

Plastic Water Bottles in Winterfell!
With so many been disappointed at the Game of Thrones finale with some declaring it “a travesty”, now that the White Walkers have been defeated, Winterfell needs to consider their plastic waste streams. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/20/game-of-thrones-plastic-water-bottle-finale

Sydney businesses sign up to our no plastics pledge

The commitment means there will be fewer plastic bottles, straws, throw away cups and food utensils at a growing number of Sydney hotels, entertainment venues, markets, festivals, major events and outdoor spaces. https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/articles/sydney-businesses-sign-up-to-our-no-plastics-pledge

Single-use plastics a serious climate change hazard, study warns

The report says plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its lifecycle, from its production to its refining, and the way it is managed as a waste product. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/15/single-use-plastics-a-serious-climate-change-hazard-study-warns

Waitrose launches packaging-free trial

In a new drive to try to eliminate unnecessary plastic and packaging, shoppers will be able to fill their own containers with a range of products from a series of dispensers using a dedicated refill station, one of the first to be installed by a major UK supermarket. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/04/waitrose-launches-packaging-free-trial

Qantas passengers in world-first ‘zero waste’ flight

Mini Vegemite servings were out and compostable crop starch cutlery was in as Qantas trialled a move it says will cut 100 million single-use plastics a year. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/qantas-passengers-in-world-first-zero-waste-flight

G20 to tackle ocean plastic waste

Japan wants to make reducing the glut of plastic waste in the oceans a priority at the Group of 20 summit it is hosting this month as governments around the world crack down on such pollution. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-summit-plastics/g20-to-tackle-ocean-plastic-waste-as-petrochemical-producers-expand-in-asia-idUSKCN1TE0QJ

The Habit/at installation is a collaboration between Cundall, Plenary Group, Richard Crookes, Onelight Australia and Top Knot Carpentry.

Imagery Copyright Guy Wilkinson Photography.