Introduction
PET shop is a series of make at home workshops exploring how to re-imagine, rebuild and repurpose material from your recycling bin.
‘Waste is not necessarily wasteful, it just hasn’t been re-imagined yet so this is an opportunity to explore an organic way of crafting’
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The name PET shop simply derives from Polyethylene Terephthalate or Petra.
The content has been developed with Leeds Disabled People's Organisation with funding from Leeds Inspired, to be suitable for people with a variety of impairments, and those who are unable to participate in traditional craft workshops.
Using domestic waste plastics, we explore a variety of making techniques and introduce sustainability and Circular Economy, inspired by biological systems and architecture
Please support LDPO and Immortal Bloom in creating these workshops and for future accessible, sustainable craft projects.
Philosophy
PET shop's accessible craft workshops demonstrate the four elements of
the project's philosophy:
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Awareness of the impact of plastic waste on the environment
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Our current method of dealing with materials is to take them from nature, make industrial products, then discard things as waste at the end of their lives
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In 2017, UK household waste amounted to 409kg per person, of which 24% was sent to landfill
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Recyclability of waste
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There are 6 main types of plastic labelled for recycling, though many more types of plastic also exist. Often you will see these numbers printed or moulded into plastic packaging or parts.
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In the UK, around 32% of plastics are recycled. The UK also has the highest rate of TetraPak carton recycling in the world (37%), and Wales has the world's 3rd highest household recycling rates.
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Circularity in our designs and the materials used
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The materials used in our workshops can be recycled or composted after use
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Circular Design aims to avoid waste from the design phase by considering the end of a product's life in its design
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Creativity as a tool to educate, build confidence and have fun.
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Immortal Bloom's Connected project uses repurposed single use beer Key Kegs to build immersive environments that mimic mycelium systems
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Many craft projects use plastics and wasteful materials
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Polyethylene terephthalate
Used to make drinks bottles, fruit trays, ready meal trays
The most recycled plastic, often packaging materials into clothes and carpet fibres.
High Density Polyethylene
Used to make milk bottles, dairy packaging
Recycled back into bottles
Poly Vinyl Chloride
Used to make pipes and films
Difficult & toxic to treat & recycle
Low Density Polyethylene
Used to make plastic bags, wrap and films
Recycled back into plastic bags and films
Polypropylene
Used to make yogurt pots, plastic boxes
Recycled into packaging material
Polystyrene
Used for pots (unexpanded) and foam cups and packing (expanded)
Expanded polystyrene foam is difficult to recycle, hard polystyrene is easier
Other
This is not a category, but just refers to everything else
Some are recyclable, some are not
Workshops
The PET shop Programme
Channel Trailer
As a response to the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been working closely with Leeds Disabled People’s Organisation to develop a series of online craft workshops to explore how to re-imagine, rebuild and repurpose material from your recycling bin.
4. PET Puppets (Anzir Boodoo)
click here to view with audio description
This workshop uses a downloadable template
Resources
See below for The Blind Life's guide to low vision sewing tools
Please help support Immortal Bloom and LDPO in providing these workshops by donating to our crowdfunder
https://www.gofundme.com/f/petshop-accessible-workshops
PET Shop was funded by Leeds Inspired
