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The vibrant murals of Spanish street artist Dados Punto Cero DA2’s ‘TetraBrick’ Series spark essential discussions about waste and landfills. These works of art inspire viewers to take action by reducing waste, recycling, avoiding single-use plastics, and reconsidering packaging choices.
Recycling is an important practice for preserving the environment, but it can be quite challenging, especially regarding certain types of packaging. The ‘Tetra Brick Series’ studies examine the ease of recycling different types of packaging based on their unique components. Unfortunately, Tetra Pak cartons have been criticised for their recycling challenges. Unlike tin cans and glass bottles, Tetra Pak cartons require specific recycling plants that are not easily accessible and expensive.
Tetra Paks, primarily paperboard-based, cannot be recycled with regular paper. This is due to aluminium foil liners and polyethene caps in the packaging. This makes recycling Tetra Pak cartons challenging for many individuals and communities. If not properly recycled, Tetra Pak cartons may end up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and degradation.
“This series of murals main idea is to denounce recycling for economic purposes instead of ecological ones. The tetra brick is a complex and expensive container to recycle since it has three components, plastic, aluminium and cardboard. The separation of both entails a costly process that barely leaves a profit for companies dedicated to recycling, which is why it often ends up being part of our landfills. In this case, I propose real recycling, transforming that garbage into life.” Dados Punto Cero
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“I also associated another idea in some murals, such as the immigrant orange case. I denounced the difficulties that the administration places on immigrants and the facilities for importing oranges, thus making our fruit not collected and lost in the cultivated fields.” Dados Punto Cero
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“The mural of Begoña, the Cigoña, makes visible the changes in the behaviour of birds, which have stopped migrating due to climate change and all the problems it entails, including pest imbalance in the ecosystem… In addition, the incorporation of plastic waste in the creation of their nests causes greater mortality in the young.” Dados Punto Cero
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As we strive towards a more sustainable future, addressing the recycling issues surrounding cartons, especially the aseptic ones, is crucial. Dados Punto Cero has devised an innovative solution to raise awareness by creating murals that serve as a message to the public and a call to action for companies. In this regard, it’s great to see that Tetra Pak is among the companies taking steps towards sustainable packaging. They have developed a bio-based cap made from sugarcane and are working on new barrier technologies that will replace aluminium foil by 2030.
As consumers, we must keep the pressure on these companies to take social responsibility for their environmental impact. While recycling is crucial, we should consider refillable containers as the best option for reducing our environmental impact. Let’s make informed decisions when purchasing products and collectively work towards a greener future.
Photo Credit Dados Punto Cero
