Samba contributed to the conference with:
Thursday 16. april -
Kirsten Linde: Plastic fantastic or not? Contemporary material culture under challenge.
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Plastic slides in a package of cheese. Photo: MiA
Plastic fantastic or not? Contemporary material culture under challenge
By Kirsten Linde, Konservator NMF/Curator, MiA - Museums in Akershus
Do you dress in plastic(fibers)? Do you eat (from) plastic? Do you wash in (nano) plastics?
We are surrounded by indispensable and for most people, unavoidable plastic products. Plastic has outcompeted wood, metals, plants and animal products as basic material in our everyday products. Plastic is cheap to produce. Plastic is easy to shape. Plastic can be used for hard and soft products. Plastic weighs little and is easy to transport. Plastic is almost a perfect product, were it not for the pollution and sustainability issues these petroleum products cause.
Plastic products are so common that they are almost invisible. We use, throw away and buy again. What happens when plastic consumption is suddenly put on hold? What happens when the EU bans everyday products for most people?
Plastic ban, plastic consumption, plastic pollution are current topics in the news media: Toxic Temu toys, problematic football granules, tax on plastic bags, plastic waste and recycled plastic create frustrations and engagement in the news. How do we address these current issues and incorporate them into our communication, collection and preservation activities. How do we become something other than just another news voice in the news stream?
MiA – Museums in Akershus collect plastic products that are either banned or will be banned In Norway. This plastic project is part of the joint museum project SAMBA – Active collaboration for sustainability communication in museums.
Tekst den: 27.05.2026.