Abstract

The twentieth-century shift to synthetic plastics marked a break from plastic’s origins in material reuse. In the nineteenth century, innovators used hydraulics to create non-synthetic plastics like Bois Durci, Parkesine, and Xylonite from waste materials including cotton, coal tar, paper, milk, blood – even root vegetables. Understanding how these early plastics have survived over time might help us revive and adapt Victorian methods, offering inspiration for the development of greener, non-synthetic bioplastics that are less harmful at the point of production.

Short Bio

Emily Cockayne, Associate Professor in Cultural History at the University of East Anglia, UK, took a PhD in History from Cambridge University before moving to a Prize Fellowship at Magdalen College, Oxford. Author of four monographs (Hubbub, Yale 2007; Cheek by Jowl, Bodley Head 2012; Rummage. A History of the Things we have Reused, Recycled and Refused to let go, Profile 2020; Penning Poison, Oxford 2023), Emily’s work is broadly focused on the history of material and everyday life – including historical repurposing and recycling.

What is an AIAS Seminar?

The AIAS Seminar Series is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellows, AIAS Visiting or Tandem Fellows or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, a fellow will present and discuss her/his current research and work-in-progress to an interdisciplinary audience for 30 minutes, closing off with 30 minutes for questions, comments and discussion.

All seminars are in-person and held in English. To attend online, please contact Cecilie Horshauge at cecilie@aias.au.dk by 9:00am on the day of the semimar as the latest to request a link.