CHALLENGING THE NORM
By creating a more biodegradable alternative to these PU darts, our goal is to induce more conversation about what these materials used during basic human activities are doing to our planet and ecosystems. This cultural change begins by engaging our current and future generations with the knowledge and normalcy of switching our daily polluting materials to more biodegradable substances. We aim to promote more positive, sustainable, and mindful engagement with the environment by showing that bettering our planet can be a fun event.
Waste
Over 445,277,777 foam darts are made per year. They pose a risk to the environment from its production to the end of their life cycle. PU foams constructed from fossil fuels have an annual greenhouse gas production emission of about 7.8 metric tons. When the PU foams are at the end of their lives, they are disposed of through landfill, recycling, incineration, or minor fungal decomposition. If PU foams are left in landfills or the general environment, there will be groundwater and soil pollution along with some limited biodegradability. While many companies have not clearly stated what type of plastic is used on the tip of typical nerf darts, common plastics such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate have little to no biodegradability.
Community Engagement
During this game about seven darts were lost within 30 minutes. Immediately, the players realized the benefits of relying on a more biodegradable option. Even with the best intentions, there was some negative environmental impact that could have been prevented with a biodegradable replacement of two materials.
Seed Spreading
We are exploring designs incorporating seed dispersal mechanisms to plant beneficial or significant plant species to different landscapes. Some goals sprouting from this idea include the restoration of ecosystems, the reintroduction of native species, or the recovery of endangered species. This aspect of our concept requires further research and testing. We want to ensure that the seeds we select are safely compatible with the ecosystems our darts could potentially be used in and that the embedded seeds can successfully grow.
