Plastic is more than a material; it is a metaphor for building, discarding, and remembering. This framework invites engagement with plastic as a lens for legacy, care, and systemic change.

Begin with Material Memory

Plastic resists decay. It accumulates in oceans, landfills, bodies, and archives. It outlasts its intended use, becoming a record of what we value, neglect, and choose to forget.

Reflection Checklist

• I’ve reflected on how plastic manifests in my field or community.
• I’ve considered the emotional and ecological weight of permanence.
• I’ve acknowledged how plastic intersects with visibility, repair, and erasure.

Fill in the Blanks

• Plastic reminds me of…
• Its permanence feels like…

Helpful Resource

Plastic Pollution and Human Rights – Environmental Justice Foundation
Explore how plastic intersects with justice, visibility, and harm.

Clarify the Power Structures

Plastic is not neutral. Its lifecycle, from fossil fuel extraction to disposal, is shaped by power, privilege, and exclusion. Understanding these dynamics reframes permanence as both a tool and a tension.

Power Checklist

• I’ve identified who benefits from plastic’s durability.
• I’ve considered who bears the burden of its waste.
• I’ve reflected on how permanence can be protective, oppressive, or both.

Try This

• One power dynamic I’ve noticed is…
• It matters because…

Helpful Resources

• Break Free From Plastic – Global movement for systemic campaigns and treaty updates
• Rethink Plastic Alliance – EU policy and advocacy for plastic justice

Design for Dignity and Decay

What if we designed with impermanence in mind? Breathable systems, biodegradable materials, and ceremonial endings honor ecological care and intentional closure.

Design Checklist

• I’ve explored biodegradable or adaptive design principles.
• I’ve considered how permanence affects accessibility.
• I’ve reflected on how decay can be ceremonial, not shameful.

Explore more with us:

• Read our Informal Blog for relaxed insights
• Discover Deconvolution and see what’s happening
• Visit Gwenin for a curated selection of frameworks
• Browse Spiralmore collections