Petazelle is a speculative design project, a probiotic enabling digestion of the PET- Polyethylene terephthalate, popular plastic. PET is widely used to produce bottles and other one-time use containers, it is also very durable and does not easily break down. Microplastics- not entirely broken down PET is a huge source of pollution, with unknown consequences for human health and ecosystem. Recently it was even found in human feces.
The work is inspired by bacteria Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, which posses the ability to break down PET. It could be introduced as a probiotic for humans and other animals to help with breaking down microplastic and plastic in their organisms.
The project was consulted and supported by biologists : Sebastian Kwiatkowski, Sebastian Jeleń, and Stanisław Łoboziak.
It was part of the exhibition “Endless forms most beautiful…” at Austrian Cultural Forum in Warsaw
