You probably have a reusable shopping tote (check), refillable insulated water bottle (check), and maybe even a compost bin out back (check). But for those looking to further reduce their impact on the planet, reusing what will become waste is the way to go.
It’s around this idea of radical reuse that HP challenged TikTok creators to transform their plastic refuse into something beautiful, useful, or inventive and share it with the #HPRadicalReuse hashtag. These creators are finding alternative uses for plastic items that would normally be trashed and perhaps join the estimated 11 million metric tons that make its way into the world’s ocean each year.
The social media challenge dovetails with the release of a new ad campaign by HP, called “Parallel Lives,” that shows the devastating effects of plastic pollution, and calls upon all of us to do our part to prevent it.
“As a storyteller and creative, I feel it’s my responsibility to do all I can and to protect this beautiful planet for future generations to enjoy,” says Alison Teal, an adventure traveler, filmmaker, and ocean conservation advocate who grew up off the grid with her globe-trotting parents, National Geographic photographer David Blehert and yoga instructor Deborah Koehn. “Recycling is a step in the right direction, but I believe it’s important to protect the beautiful planet that we do have.”
Here’s a look at a few of the TikTok-ers creations that just might inspire you to look at your trash a little differently.
