Impact Campaigns
Plastic Justice?
The plastic crisis is a complex issue which can be viewed and understood through many lenses: it’s an environmental disaster, a global trade, a health hazard, even an economic opportunity.
Nonetheless, it’s becoming increasingly clear that plastic is an issue which needs to be understood from a social and environmental justice perspective.
We therefore introduced Plastic Justice as a starting point for analysing and acting upon the plastic crisis, and invited key international campaigners, justice advocates and local innovators to discuss what ‘plastic justice’ means, and how it can be operationalised.
Background
The UN Global Plastics Treaty presents the world with a unique chance to end a waste crisis which is critically endangering human and environmental health.
Our campaign Plastic Justice?, which was launched in parallel with the third round of treaty negotiations, highlights the interconnectedness of environmental and social justice issues, and addresses plastic pollution's disproportionate impact on marginalised communities.
Human perspectives, insightful conversations
Through Plastic Justice?, we created an immersive multimedia experience blending cinema, artivism and environmental advocacy. Resilient worked alongside strategic partners – On Est Prêt, Ritual Arts, Gjenge Makers and The Hague Humanity Hub – to provide spaces for diverse and influential stakeholders to collectively analyse and engage with the emerging concept of Plastic Justice.
So far, events have taken place in Nairobi, in parallel with the third round of UN treaty negotiations, and in The Hague, also referred to as the “City of Peace and Justice”. The audience enjoyed #SickOfPlastic’s BAKELITE, 8billion’s Une Seconde Vie, and Ritual Art’s pilot episode of their Earthbound series.
BAKELITE: A creative exploration of the toxic relationship between humanity and plastic. Let's immerse ourselves in this thought-provoking journey.
Une Seconde Vie: As part of Chad’s grassroots storytelling movement, it follows Benjamin as he transforms waste into useful or decorative objects in an effort to combat his community’s plastic pollution.
Earthbound: A celebration of Nzambi Matee's groundbreaking solution to plastic waste in Kenya.
Through film screenings, panel discussions, dance performances, artivism exhibitions, Q&A segments and interactive activities, we were able to put the human experience in front and centre of the debates surrounding the plastic crisis and reflect on pathways to move towards a more just materials future. The panel discussions were led by campaign leaders, social entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, academics, artivism experts and the Resilient team.
