It was my lucky day when Michael Lutman attended a screening of his film ‘Plasticized’ at Port Phillip EcoCentre earlier this year. As there is increasing evidence of wildlife being entangled in, or swallowing plastic, I was thrilled when he agreed to tackle the topic in Port Phillip Bay.
We set out to film how the age of plastics has invaded the Bay and discovered a growing effort to combat the rising plastic tide. The film features many people working locally and further abroad, such Dr Jennifer Lavers (researching plastics ingestion by seabirds), to address the impacts of plastic pollution; and Boon Wurrung Elder Carolyn Briggs tells the story of how Nairm (Port Phillip Bay) came to be.
The issue is growing, and needs the whole community to be part of the solution: individuals, community groups, business and government. As the film was being made, students and EcoCentre volunteers were also documenting the incidence of plastic pre-production pellets in the Bay. Read all about it here Nurdle Soup booklet
The film was part funded by Port Phillip EcoCentre and the EPA Victoria, through its Inspiring Environmental Solutions Program. Not-for-profit partners involved include Port Phillip EcoCentre, Boon Wurrung Foundation, Marine Care Ricketts Point, Take 3, Two Hands, Melbourne Zoo, Australian Marine Debris Initiative and Bags Revolt. The film also features Dr Randall Lee (EPA) Dr Jennifer Lavers (Monash University), Dr Kate Charlton-Robb, and the MUir family from Polperro Dolphin Swims.
