The Green Maker Initiative and the Book!
The Green Maker Initiative (GMI) offers free membership and supports craftspeople and designer makers to reduce the environmental impact of their practices. The GMI is hosted and supported by MAKE Southwest and Arts Council England.
As the creative industries research fellow on the Low Carbon Devon Project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (EDRF), at the University of Plymouth, I undertook research on sustainability in the creative industries and developed a few initiatives, including The Green Maker Initiative (GMI), with MAKE Southwest!
You can read more about the GMI in this beautiful book published by University of Plymouth Press, in collaboration with the Crafts Council and MAKE Southwest.
The Green Maker Initiative Book (Cover photograph by Sarah Clarke Photography)
The Green Maker Initiative Book asks what role designers, makers and consumers can have in reducing the environmental impact of objects, and even make a positive contribution to the world we live in. The aim of this book is twofold: (1) to sow seeds by posing questions and offering different perspectives from researchers investigating the craft sector, making, consumption and environmental responsibility; (2) to nurture and support makers by sharing practical strategies for reducing the environmental impact of their practice.
This book is for designers, makers and artists. The book is also for academics and students and those interested in creative industries and sustainability research. Finally, the book is relevant to anyone who wants to be inspired with practical strategies that make a difference to the way we engage with Mother Earth.
The book explores environmental, social and ethical dimensions of designer maker and craft practices from a range of perspectives, including the circular economy. Chapters by experts in the field include, Katie Treggiden, author of Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure (Ludion, 2020), who discusses the importance of recategorizing waste so we can change our approaches to materials, showcasing designers and makers who are embracing this challenge. Julian Leedham, London furniture designer and maker, and Lauren England of King’s College London, discuss their research on Crafting a Circular Economy. Alessandra Fasoli, of Kingston School of Art considers Making as Culture, community and craft. Polly Macpherson, University of Plymouth, reflects on her experience of how sustainability is taught within design in higher education, Julia Bennett and Caroline Jackman of the Crafts Council analyse recent sustainability research across the craft sector. Andrew Morlet, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has written the foreword.
The book presents practical strategies and approaches for designer makers to reduce the environmental impact of their craft drawing on research with Green Maker Initiative members, conducted by Emma Whittaker, University of Plymouth. The book is richly illustrated with photographs of makers’ work throughout and useful diagrams to inform practical action. Laura Wasley, CEO of MAKE Southwest, and Hannah Mills-Brown GMI Project Lead at MAKE Southwest discuss how they are facilitating the development of the Green Maker Initiative and helping its members. The Green Maker Initiative Book is supported by the ERDF Low Carbon Devon project within the Sustainable Earth Institute at the University of Plymouth, MAKE Southwest, Arts Council England and the Crafts Council.
You can purchase the full colour coffee table version, printed in Devon on recycled paper with vegetable inks, featuring the work of over 25 makers and over 50 contributors. All proceeds support the Green Maker Initiative.
