Help to spread the word: marine debris and plastic pollution are a serious threat to marine life, flora and fauna of our waters and eventually human health.

About the Plastic Garbage Project exhibition:

Plastic – a material for eternity? Since the start of the 20th century this mineral oil-based material, which is economical, simple to process and can be given almost any required quality, has blazed a triumphant trail through the world of consumption. But what happens to plastic products at the end of their lifecycle?

Plastic is not biodegradable. If plastic objects are not correctly disposed of, large numbers of them make their way to the sea via inland waterways and rivers. Currents and tides wash them up on the coastline or they end up in circling gyres where, over the course of time, they are ground down into particles that can make their way into the food chain. The impact of plastic garbage pollution and the effects of what are known as microplastics on living organisms have been the subject of numerous scientific studies. Researchers, NGOs, and by now politicians too, are in agreement about one thing: there is an urgent need for action.

This exhibition endeavors to present facts about plastic pollution in an illustrative way and in this context examines various questions about the advantages and disadvantages of using synthetic products, the considerations of product design, the recycling potential and the influence on health. The possible solutions are grouped around a series of “Rs”: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, rethink, redesign…and aim at getting plastic consumers to take action.

The exhibition is accompanied by a homepage and a richly varied educational program that is documented and itself forms part of the exhibition.

Participate:

We want your trash! Be part of the main exhibit - a huge plastic debris installation in our main exhibition hall: Send us plastic items you found on your diving tours.

Tell our visitors your story: Document the items where you found them and tell us what you know about their story. Is there evidence of how they got there? Any connection to local events or customs? Any interesting remarks or traces of interaction with marine life? You're the expert!

If you have found interesting plastic objects (not too bulky or heavy ones), write us an email to plasticgarbage and we will organize the shipping. Don't forget to mention your name and location for honorary mention in our credit list!