Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Chantel-Graffiti Artists-PSALM

3/24/09     =]
Graffiti is it vandalism or art?

Graffiti is the unauthorized writing, scratching or marking of something onto property. Often you see tags (people who have simply scribbling their name or nickname). But on other occasions it can be a fine piece of artwork. The debate whether or not graffiti is art or just vandalism has been around in australian communities for years. 

Graffiti dates way back, Archaeologists have found ancient graffiti on the great pyramid at Giza in Egypt, on an Egyptian sphinx, and on walls in Pompeii. I believe that through out these years graffiti has grown. In my personal opinion I cannot say in one statement weather i DO or DO NOT like graffiti. I think each piece of graffiti must be judged individually.

 

As a large colorful picture like these ones on a large blank wall looks good and is better than a large empty space. Often graffiti is the only way someone who is not a known artist can convey their political, environmental or social message. 

An example of a very bad graffiti; 

graffiti-Eddy


graffiti is a type of art that has developed over hundreds of years to become a street form of art that many people do illegally and a lot of people see it as unclean but no matter what your view of 
graffiti is it is still art and most graffiti is done for a reason to express peoples feelings about something. Graffiti is becoming easier to do rather then having to spray the wall with hard designs they use stencils that don't look messy and are quicker to apply but the quickest way to put up some graffiti is using already
prepared bits of paper and just glueing them to the wall which is quick and easy but is still vandalism and the laws are changing to get even harsher on graffiti artists like if u are under 18 years old and are caught with spray cans it is 3 months second offense is 6 months and third is a year from my point of view graffiti is art and should be allowed on walls for a certain amount of time as long as it isn't rude or isn't just a tag written hugely 

Bronson: "Cradle to Cradle"

Dear persons and creatures of other forms,

In William McDonough's book, "Cradle to Cradle",  written with his colleague, the German chemist Michael Braungart, Mc Donough lays down a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design. McDonough and Braungart make the case that an industrial system that "takes, makes and wastes" can become a creator of goods and services that generate ecological, social and economic value.

Cradle to Cradle Design is a biomimetic approach to the design of systems. It models human industry on nature's processes in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolism. It suggests that industry must protect and enrich ecosystems and nature's biological metabolism while also maintaining safe, productive technical metabolism for the high-quality use and circulation of organic and synthetic materials.


In the Cradle to Cradle model, all materials used in industrial or commercial processes--such as metals, fabrics, dyes--are seen to fall into one of two categories: "technical" or "biological" nutrients. Technical nutrients are strictly limited to non-toxic, non-harmful synthetic materials that have no negative effects on the natural environment; they can be used in continuous cycles as the same product without losing their integrity or quality. In this manner these materials can be used over and over again instead of being "Downcycled" into lesser products, ultimately becoming waste. Biological Nutrients are organic materials that, once used, can be disposed of in any natural environment and decompose into the soil, providing food for small life forms without affecting the natural environment. This is dependent on the ecology of the region; for example, organic material from one country or landmass may be harmful to the ecology of another country or landmass



Jason and Kim Graham-Nye earned cradle-to-cradle certification for their product, gDiapers, to gain “legitimacy and credibility with our customers."






Bibliography

Friday, April 24, 2009

Oriel - C2C

The Cradle to Grave model of living is the way we have lived for hundreds of years.  The home, the business world and industrial production rarely view an item to have a longer life or greater purpose than the single one for which it was made.  Even in our most basic and simple effort we can make at home, biodegradable kitchen scraps are not composted in many homes and Recycling is still a big effort for some people.

So, while many households struggle to “do their bit” in enhancing their world, it is encouraging to see that major industries are creating such massive change.  Admittedly the change has come about through force – change, move or close!

Cradle to Cradle is so new to us in our modern way of thinking.  Again the simple act of composting is a perfect example of waste = food.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_cradle

www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm


Plastics are one of the most difficult materials to break down after use.  For this reason, plastic has been developed to recycle, ie. Downcyle.   There are 7 types of plastics, most of which cannot be processed by community recycling plants.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/plastics.html

There is also Degradable Plastic, Biodegradable Plastic and Compostable Plastic.  For plastic to be Compostable it must meet three criteria:

“1. Biodegrade - break down into carbon dioxide, water, biomass at the same rate as cellulose (paper)

2. Disintegrate - the material is indistinguishable in the compost, that it is not visible and needs to be screened out

3. Eco-toxicity - the biodegradation does not produce any toxic material and the compost can support plant growth.”

(from http://biopak.com.au/Products2.html)

This is a fine example of Waste = Food.

Many large Festivals now insist food stalls only provide biodegradable plates and cutlery for their customers.  (Bluesfest: "paper, wood or cornstarch"; Splendour: "certification that packaging is biodegradable"; BDO: can only find recycling notes)

Above: Compostable Plates & Cutlery made from bamboo & sugarcane fibre.

Here are some other interesting designs where materials saved from landfill have been “up-cycled” to a higher form.  

RD4 Chair:

“The RD4 (Roughly Drawn) Chair is an instantly iconic design hand-woven in 100% recycled plastic waste material, with no two chairs being exactly alike. The RD4 Chair is a tour de force piece heralding the future of sustainable design, and makes a striking visual statement uniquely its own.” 

Price: USD1,848.00 http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=345

Vintage Belt Floor Mat:

“This handsome, handmade floor mat is made of artfully assembled vintage leather belts that have been rescued on their way from waist to waste. Its rich tones, textures, and tread-friendly patina evoke the look of a wonderfully worn wood floor, albeit with a decidedly warmer under-foot feel. Each Vintage Belt Floor Mat is a one-of-a-kind creation, and as such, colors and characteristics will vary slightly from those pictured.”

Price: USD688.00 http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=278

Shoulder Bag:

“This eye-catching piece is the latest twist on JoshJakus's clever line of handbags. The ingenious design is the result of its simplicity – the bag is nothing more than two layers of a cleverly shaped piece of felt and a zipper. Like the popular Tote, Carry, Clutch and Hold bags, this easy-to-carry tote unzips to a flat piece for easy travel or storage.

Available with an orange zipper/shoulder strap.

Please note that wool felt is made from factory waste, so color and texture may vary slightly from what is shown.”

Price: USD135.00 http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23&products_id=416

Six-pack Wine Rack:

“This clever wine rack is made from naturally renewable and recyclable materials. It holds and protects six standard wine bottles. It also ships flat and stores easily when not in use.

Please note that wool felt is made from factory waste, so color and texture may vary slightly from what is shown.”

Price: USD40.00 http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=339

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Cradle to Cradle VS Cradle to Grave

CRADLE TO GRAVE-(LCA, also known as life cycle analysis, ecobalance, and cradle-to-grave analysis) Is when a product/packaging is used and then thrown away and is put into landfill causing hazardous and environmental problems. These 'cradle to grave' products cant be recycled due to the material that is used in them. The moment you open and use a can of solvent you are a waste generator. Conservation laboratories might only produce 10–15 gallons of waste each year and private conservators only one quart, but the improper disposal of even small quantities may cause health, safety, and legal problems.
In 1980, EPA issued regulations detailing the responsibilities for hazardous waste generators, transporters, and management facilities. Among these regulations were two broad exclusions: households and small businesses that generated less than 1,000 kilograms per month of hazardous waste. A "Cradle-to-grave" assessment considers impacts at each stage of a product's life-cycle, from the time natural resources are extracted from the ground and processed through each subsequent stage of manufacturing, transportation, product use, and ultimately, disposal.











CRADLE TO CRADLE

A certification system and philosophy established by architect William McDonough based on the idea that products and the built environment should be designed in a closed system so that when they are no longer useful, they provide fuel for new products or natural cycles, eliminating waste. This framework seeks to create production techniques that are not just efficient, but essentially waste-free. In cradle-to-cradle production, all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality and biological nutrients can be composted or consumed.

All the materials that are used in the cradle to cradle idea are metals, fibers, dyes. These materials fall into one of two categories: "technical" or "biological" nutrients.

Technical nutrients are strictly limited to non-toxic, non-harmful materials that have no negative effects on the natural environment; they can be used in continuous cycles as the same product without losing their integrity or quality. In this manner these materials can be used over and over again instead of being "downcycled" into lesser products, ultimately becoming waste.

Biological Nutrients are organic materials that, once used, can be disposed of in any natural environment and decompose into the soil, providing food for small life forms without affecting the natural environment.


The ‘Mirra chair’ is a office chair contains that contains 42% recycled

material and is 96% recyclable.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_cradle


http://aic.stanford.edu/health/guides/guide4_1.html


http://www.nkba.org/green/glossary.aspx


http://www.dantes.info/Projectinformation/Glossary/Glossary.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle-to-grave


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

MIRANDA: POST FIVE - Cradle to Cradle/Cradle to Grave

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is where a product is made – used – thrown away – and then reused without harming the environment in anyway and with out the materials losing quality as they do in re-cycling (down cycling). The product is back to where it started, endlessly reused. This idea is taken from what happens in nature where WASTE = FOOD, the product is designed so there is no wastage. The components are seen as either 'biological nutrients' that safely re-enter the environment or as 'technical nutrients' which can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality. Instead of the product harming the environment it is benefiting it.


How products are ‘scored' under the C2C idea:
GREEN (A-B)
Little to no risk associated with this substance.
Preferred for use in its intended application.
YELLOW (C)
Low to moderate risk associated with this substance.
Acceptable for continued use unless a GREEN
alternative is available.
RED (X)
High hazard and risk associated with the use of this
substance. Develop strategy for phase out.
GREY
Incomplete data. Cannot be characterized.

Examples of Cradle to Cradle products:
Len-Tex’s Surface iQ Wall coverings

The only printed commercial grade wall covering to have the Cradle to Cradle certification.

gDiapers earned the first and so far only certification for baby care products with their flushable/compostable diaper lining.
gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, perfumes, smell or garbage, and the damp ones can even make good compost. They recommend that the brown ones always get flushed down.

Cradle to Grave (C2G) is basically the opposite of the C2C idea. The product is made – used – thrown away - and then that is the end of the cycle. The product is designed without long term consideration to the end of its life, which results in it becoming waste requiring disposal in landfill. The materials used lose there quality and most if not all are non-beneficial for the environment. The product harms the environment rather than benefiting it.


Landfill


Life Cycle Analysis



http://www.readings.com.au/product/9780865475878/cradle-to-cradle-remaking-the-way-we-make-things
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_Cradle

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/green/gloss.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle-to-grave

http://www.dantes.info/Projectinformation/Glossary/Glossary.html

http://epa.gov/epawaste/education/quest/gloss1a.htm

http://www.business.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/content.cfm?id=8683

http://www.logisticsmagazine.com.au/Article/Cradle-to-cradle-supply-chains/149359.aspx

http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:FlBsBX60K3YJ:www.ecospecifier.org/content/download/24357/404804/file/MBDC%2520Cradle-to-Cradle%2520Certification.pdf+cradle+to+cradle+materials&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au

http://www.minerals.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/30134/LCA_b.pdf

Friday, April 17, 2009

Hayley- Cradle to Cradle



Abbreviated to C2C and referred to as a regenerative Biomimetric approach, Cradle to Cradle applies biological methods and systems found in nature to design. This method operates on the theory that industry must protect and enrich the ecosystem. This theory is in opposition to the Cradle to Grave design and production system. C2G product cycles are not really cycles but only half-cycles in which products, after their useful life, are discarded and put out of sight in landfills. C2C designs restore continuous cycles of biological as well as technical nutrients with long-term positive effects on profitability, the environment and human health.
  • BIOLOGICAL CYCLES refer to organic materials that can be disposed of in any natural environment and decompose into the soil, providing food for small life forms and plants. This promotes the WASTE=FOOD equation.
  • TECHNICAL CYCLES are strictly limited to non-toxic, non-harmful synthetic materials that have no negative effect on the environment.
There are 4 categories of C2C:
  • GREEN - little to no risk.
  • YELLOW - low to moderate risk. The chemicals used are acceptable till a green alternative is found.
  • ORANGE - There is no indication that this is a high risk chemical, complete assessment is not possible due to a lack of information.
  • RED - high risk chemicals or X-list. These should be phased out as soon as possible.
C2C meet current design standards regarding cost, performance and aesthetics and go a step further, including ecological intelligence and safety to human health.



A great example of the C2C design method is Aveda. This company has achieved the C2C certification for 4 of the main ingredients they use in their beauty products. They are the first beauty company to achieve this status.

Their certified ingredients are:


sandalwood from Australia

rose oil from Bulgaria

lavender oil from Bulgaria

uruka from Brazil


Not only have they made this ground-breaking achievement, they have made their packaging more eco-friendly. This company has included 100% post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene in bottles and jars, as well as packaging that can easily be taken apart for curbside recycling. Aveda are leading the way in C2C design and production in the beauty world.

It is important to remember that in order to actually make a difference in the survival of our eco-system we need to fundamentally change the way we design our products, industries and cities. It is no longer enough to simply recycle. By making it our aim to choose products made under the C2C system we will be promoting their production, hence making them more readily available and eventually bringing the C2G system to an end.
C2C Links:
Aveda is First Beauty Company to Achieve Cradle to Cradle Ingredient Certification
About Aveda
Responsible Packaging
Cradle-to-Cradle Design Certification by MBDC
Cradle to Cradle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Julie Post 5_Cradle to Grave



Cradle to Grave


Imperative to mans survival on the earth is our ability to take care of our planet.
For generation upon generation mankind has been flagrantly polluting his own backyard destroying eco-systems and the habitats of many animal species.
As industrialization developed man in his quest to 'produce' and with the greed that surrounds the accumulation of wealth, man overlooked his devastating impact upon the earth, choosing rather to turn a blind eye to those 'issues' that would cost time and money to address, instead listening to the bleating of shareholders and money grabbers, went merrily on his destructive course!
In the 1970's as th e computer age was emerging many sensitive and insightful people often known as 'hippies' started to speak out about the environment and were unhappy at the way things were unfolding. Many 'dropped out' into the countryside wanting to hold onto a more simple way of life, to eat clean and pure foods, living and gardening communally, using natural energy sources, saving seeds etc etc...To those aware people it was obvious that man was heading down the wrong path. Some of them managed follow through and find a niche where they could continue to work towards a greener earth, but many were forced to join the 'rat race' again submitting to the power of the $$$. Those 40 years have cost the earth dearly and now as the earth groans under mans excesses, mankind is finally willing to look at what we have set in motion.
The question is can we turn back the clock and the destruction???

In USA waste management has become a huge multi million $ industry.

From Cradle
to Grave Waste Management for Conservative AIC Health & Safety Guides
The most important regulation governing hazardous waste is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), whose primary goals are 'to protect human health and environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner'
The basic tenet of this regulation is a 'cradle-to-grave' tracking system, meaning that hazardous waste generators (users of hazardous materials who generate hazardous waste) must track waste from the moment it enters the site as a hazardous material to the eventual treatment of disposal of that material.
This regulation requires hazardous waste generators to bear the responsibility of dealing with hazardou
s materials in a responsible way. Interesting to note is that the responsibility of hazardous waste may go beyond the grave, making the waste generator responsible (in part) for the waste handler's actions. Thus, if the handler does a poor job and pollutes the environment, the generator may be responsible for the cleanup.



Cradle to Cradle
This unusual term refers to the way a product is made and designed from the very beginning with the view to the product having a life after the initial use it is made for. The waste product is reused in some other product or used to make a similar product Ie. Shoes after it has been dismantled and and the raw material is recycled and reused in a completely new product or for fuel for new products or natural cycles eliminating waste.
All materials used are seen as either technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients are non toxic and are reusable and they maintain their integrity and quality, but are able to be used again and again, finally ending up as a waste product. The biological nutrients are consumables. organic in nature providing nourishment as a compost for eco-systems and other life forms.

The C2C Categories are:-
GREEN - little to no risk.
YELLOW - low to moderate risk. The chemicals used are acceptable till a green alternative is found.
ORANGE - There is no indication that this is a high risk chemical, complete assessment is not possible due to a lack of information.
RED - high risk chemicals or X-list. These should be phased out as soon as possible.C2C meet current design standards regarding cost, performance and aesthetics and go a step further, including ecological intelligence and safety to human health.


Some major companies have embraced this Cradle to Cradle ideal and have found that after initial expenditure to put in place the Cradle to Cradle system, they have found that in the long term the system save not only a lot of money, but it also save the environment too. That is the way mankind can take care of the Earth and the creatures upon it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_Cradle

http://epa.gov/epawaste/education/quest/gloss1a.htm


http://www.dantes.info/Projectinformation/Glossary/Glossary.html


http://www.zerowastevancouver.org/images/cradle-to-cradle.gif