Fish & Sort Bath Toy Set
Transforming Bath Time into a Learning Adventure
Many sea animals are sick and dying because of human mistakes. Marine species are negatively affected by waste, including plastic, waste nets, cigarette butt, etc. Plastic rings and waste nets tied the seal's neck to serious injuries or death; healthy coral colonies were covered with plastic, and plastic cups and bags poured out of the dead whale's stomach.
In this project, using ghost nets as the main material and upcycle the waste nets on the sea. Shows marine waste that threatens the health of the sea is not simply regarded as garbage but is viewed and utilized as new possibilities. This shows that if people throw the waste net away, it becomes trash, but it can be a "new resource" enough.
What is Ghost Fishing?
Ghost fishing refers to the phenomenon wherein fish are ensnared in abandoned fishing gear in the sea, leading to their eventual demise. The seriousness of this issue was brought to the forefront by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 1960. Historically, fishing gear was predominantly crafted from natural materials, enabling them to decay over time and minimizing the ghost fishing problem. However, the advent of strong chemical fibers in fishing gear construction has resulted in the accumulation of non-degradable gear in the ocean, persisting for centuries and giving rise to numerous complications.
The scale of discarded fishing gear is disconcerting, with an estimated annual disposal of at least 640,000 tons, constituting approximately 10% of all marine waste. In the coastal waters off Washington, USA, ghost fishing is accountable for the annual loss of over 3.5 million marine organisms.
The detrimental impact of ghost fishing on coastal wildlife has been observed by organizations such as Save Coastal Wildlife. Ghost fishing gear, often imperceptible in the dim light and turbid waters of the sea, can drift aimlessly until it is eventually washed ashore or collected. This equipment poses a severe threat to marine animals, ensnaring and potentially killing them, while also causing habitat degradation and acting as a navigational hazard.
In response to this pressing issue, the Ghost Diving Project, an international volunteer initiative established in 2009, has been actively involved in the cleanup of ghost fishing gear worldwide. Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that approximately 640,000 marine creatures are impacted by ghost fishing gear each year.
Interview with Fisherman: Why Fishermen are Abandoning Fishing Nets?
Interviewed: Jaehyung Joo, Fisherman in Korea.
Interviewed Mr. Joo, a fisherman in Korea, he said, "There were always voices criticizing fishermen who had abandoned fishing gear. But the system of throwing waste fishing gear cannot be put out as general waste and salt water included gear can cause problems in incineration facilities, so local government is not collect it.” The Ministry of Environment facilities says, “Fishing waste can also be put out as general waste logically,”
There are only a few marine waste disposal systems and companies, which is far from reality. Hence, it is not easy for fishermen to dispose of the waste of fishing gear. Even though the location in US and Korea is different, this interview is showing a similar problem is arising worldwide.
How Long Does the Trash Last In the Ocean?
Trash in the ocean takes a lot of time to break down and material and environmental condition makes a different breakdown time. For example, cigarette butts take about 10 years to be gone, plastic bottle takes about 450 years or more to break down in the marine environment. Even these trashs are break down, it does not completely disappear. They can turn into microplastics, which is a tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size and persist in the environment for much longer periods. The presence of these microplastics poses a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems.
Global Efforts to Safeguard the Ocean
The global community is making concerted efforts to address the issue of ocean trash and work toward its conservation. Some key approaches and initiatives aimed at saving the ocean from trash is the ocean cleanup event, innovative technologies, waste management and recycling and etc. These collective efforts reflect the global commitment to preserving the health and vitality of the oceans by minimizing and managing the impacts of trash pollution.
Ghost Net into New Material
Ghost net is discarded or lost fishing nets that continue to float and entangle marine life and it is a significant threat to ocean ecosystems. But, there are a lot of efforts are made to repurpose these ghost nets into new material and reduce the environmental impact of these waste ghost nets.
1. Fabric: Ghost nets can be turned into a strong and durable fabric, which can be used in various applications such as clothing, bags, and upholstery. The fabric is created by breaking down the nets into small pellets, which are then melted down and spun into thread.
2. Bricks: Ghost nets can be used to create bricks, which are strong and lightweight. The bricks are made by mixing the shredded ghost nets with concrete, which is then molded into the desired shape.
3. Insulation: Ghost nets can also be used as insulation material. The nets are shredded into small pieces, and mixed with other materials, such as wool and recycled plastic, to create a sustainable and effective insulation material.
4. Carpeting: Ghost nets can be turned into carpeting, which is not only durable but also provides a sustainable alternative to traditional carpeting materials. The nets are shredded into small pieces and then woven into a durable and attractive carpet material.
5. Consumer goods: Ghost nets can also be used to create a variety of consumer goods, such as water bottles, sunglasses, and phone cases. Companies such as Bureo and Econyl are leading the way in using ghost nets to create sustainable consumer products.
6. Filament: 3D printing filament made from recycled fishing nets. Fishing nets are a major contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean and can harm marine life, so repurposing them into a useful material like 3D printing filament can help reduce waste.
The Importance of Educating Children on Ecological Problems
Children are often more receptive to new information and ideas than adults, and they can be great advocates for change. By teaching them about ecological problems at a young age, we can empower them to make positive changes in their own lives and inspire others to do the same.
Children can be powerful agents of change in their own households and communities. They can influence their parents and peers to adopt environmentally-friendly behaviors and help spread awareness about ecological problems. Thus, by educating children about ecological problems, we can create a ripple effect that can lead to a more sustainable future.
Inspiration / User Profile
Children aged between 3-5 love the bold and bright color theme. Motion is the key point to make children feel fun and enjoy during bath time. Touching is an important sense at a young age. The bathtub is an easy location to play and provides a safe environment for children to play.
Children aged between 3 - 5
Interests: Nature, Recycling, Problem - Solving
Parents who want educational toy about ecological problem
Have a concerns about the ocean waste problem
Ideation
Early Ideation Sketches
Developed Ideation Sketches
Changed the shape of the boat into more interactive and the shape of trash like a toy into realistic from the first ideation
Process
Handle Design for Fishing Rod
Developed handle of fishing rod into simple and easy to grab for child age 3 - 5.
Their hand size is between 3 -4 inches so make it a small and compact shape.
Testing in Water
Changed the loop position and designed at trash-like toy because Loop on the model itself makes the toy sink. So changed the position to the side of the toy. Testing the whether the ship is floating on the water.
Toys (Trash like shape) - holes in the toy itself make to sink down so changed to make the hole next so they can play more easily and not sink.
Trash-like toys are representing real trash in the ocean.
Grey represents landfill trash. White represents incinerate trash. Green represents recyclable trash.
Inside Divider - Three dividers to separate toys.
Diagram of Fish & Sort
Final Prototype / How to Play
Fish & Sort is an educational and sustainable Bath Toy Set, made from nylon recovered during the ocean clean-up process and designed to promote environmental awareness in children. Inspired by the ghost nets left behind by fishermen, this toy allows kids to "fish" for single-use packaging products that currently litter our oceans, and then proceed to sort them. With this, children engage not only in the ocean clean-up process but also in the proper disposal of waste, where they learn about the differences in recycling and end-of-life of these products.
By learning through play, the Fish & Sort Bath Toy Set promotes environmental consciousness and sustainability, helping to shape young minds into responsible and eco-conscious future citizens.
Honorable Mention at the 2023 Pratt Institute Material Lab Prize
Designed by Luna Park. 2023