The Artistic Conversion of Waste for a Sustainable Future: Printmaking with Zero Waste
Abstract
The Purpose of the Study: This study aims to examine the process of utilizing recyclable and reusable waste materials for artistic purposes as a response to the waste problem caused by increased production capacity, mass consumption, urbanization, and the widespread use of plastics following the Industrial Revolution. Within the framework of the Zero Waste approach, the research seeks to reveal the potential of using waste materials in artistic production in terms of sustainability, education, and social transformation.
Method: The study employed an emancipatory/developmental/critical action research design, one of the qualitative research methods. As part of the Zero Waste project, discarded packaging materials such as gloves, PET bottles, and juice cartons were used as printmaking matrices. Monochromatic prints were produced using these materials, and the process of transforming waste into a medium of artistic expression was carried out through practical applications. The study was conducted within the framework of circular economy principles and an art-based sustainability approach.
Findings: The prints produced during the project demonstrated that waste materials, which are often perceived as worthless at first glance, can be transformed into objects of aesthetic and artistic value. It was observed that participants perceived waste not only as a physical material but also as a means of learning, creativity, self-expression, and raising social awareness. The findings indicate that art can serve as an effective tool for fostering sustainability awareness.
Conclusion: The incorporation of waste materials into artistic production processes contributes to the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and the enhancement of environmental awareness. This approach is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasize the development of sustainability awareness through education. To achieve a more tangible contribution to these goals, it is recommended that this model be expanded, that art-based sustainability programs be integrated into educational policies, and that scalable pilot projects be supported through collaboration with local stakeholders.
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References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Painting History
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Mustafa Tunç
*
0000-0001-5983-6695
Türkiye
Evrim Çağlayan
0000-0001-7360-6984
Türkiye
Hilal Sansar
0000-0003-2323-1293
Türkiye
Meryem Duran
0009-0004-5810-6331
Türkiye
İrem Çitci
0009-0005-8548-0561
Türkiye
Elif Ocakci
0009-0009-7571-3666
Türkiye
Publication Date
June 30, 2026
Submission Date
April 7, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 11, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 1