The "ECOPRINT in Nature" project, coordinated by Kastamonu University and supported by the Directorate for EU Affairs and the Turkish National Agency within the framework of the Erasmus+ Program Partnerships in Adult Education (KA210-ADU), started with an international online webinar series. The second of the international webinar series was held on February 29, 2024, with the participation of 40 people. In this webinar, information was given about sustainable products, natural color pigments, textile waste, and ecological products in the context of art.
Kiril Jordanov, representative of Youth on Board, one of our project partners, gave the opening speech, and the webinar continued with the speeches of the guests from our University and Goce Delcev Štip University, moderated by Prof. Emilia Janeczko, one of our project partners.
Project Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Önder Tor gave speeches on 'Plant-based Sustainable Materials', Assist. Prof. Senem Yetgin 'Natural Color Pigments', Prof. Dr. Sanja Risteski 'The Future in Fashion is Circular - let's end textile waste' and Assoc. Prof. Firdevs Müjde Gökbel Yavuzoğlu 'Ecological Products in the Context of Art'.
In the opening speech of the webinar, Kiril Jordanov mentioned that the project provides the opportunity for women, especially those who do not have a job, to receive training on how and what kind of products can be produced from organic materials, and that everyone has a responsibility to create a better tomorrow with environmental and sustainable approaches.
The first speaker of the webinar was Assoc. Prof. Önder Tor, in the Faculty of Forestry at Kastamonu University, gave his speech on "Plant-based Sustainable Materials," which is about how sustainable materials can help overcome global challenges such as climate change, overconsumption of resources, and pollution. Dr. Tor noted that according to researchers, · 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted worldwide yearly, and only a quarter of it can feed the 795 million malnourished people suffering from hunger worldwide. · Over 75% of general waste is recyclable, but only 30% is recycled in 1950. Dr. Tor mentioned that an estimated 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced since the 1990s, and only 9% of this plastic has been recycled. · The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that climate change could lead to the displacement of 250 million people worldwide by 2050. Dr. Tor continued his presentation by citing plant species such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo as examples of plant-based sustainable materials, which consume less water, absorb more CO2, are biodegradable, reduce carbon footprint, and can be converted into nutrient-rich fertilizers, thus enriching the soil. He stated that it should be used effectively, economically and efficiently.
In the second webinar presentation, Dr. Senem stated that competent color is the source of aesthetic perspective in all areas of life and is used in textiles, fashion, painting, print decoration, etc. Dr. Yetgin stated that the basis of color is based on four sources (plant, animal, mineral, and microorganism) and that it is essential in today's conditions to make the color and its application, which we encounter in the form of pigment in some of these sources and the form of dye in others, work based on sustainability. Dr. Yetgin also pointed out that it is important to determine the seasonal changes and acidity and alkalinity levels of natural mordants to be used in mordanting in applications such as the Ecoprint, which will be implemented by reducing chemicals and eliminating processes such as removing plant-based colors. Dr. Sanja Risteski, in her presentation on textile waste, specifically mentioned that waste is a global problem that seriously affects the economy, the environment, and general life and that the model on which the traditional economy works (take, make, consume, and throw away) should be replaced with a circular economy model. Dr. Risteski stated that 40% of the total waste in the Shtip province of North Macedonia comprises textile waste. These wastes represent great potential as a source of cheap raw materials for producing new materials with high added value. Dr. Risteski also mentioned that they are trying to raise people's awareness that textile waste is not only waste but also a resource that can provide economic independence for some people and that they organize training and events on this issue with primary school, secondary school, high school, university students and private individuals. Dr. Risteski stated that these training activities were carried out within the framework of 4R (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and Repurpose). At the end of her presentation, Dr. Risteski gave an important message about sustainability for textile products by saying, "Sustainable Fashion is Not a Trend; it is the Future." Dr. Müjde Gökbel Yavuzoğlu talked about the importance of nature-friendly approaches in artistic production, explained land art, environmental art, and ecological art, and gave examples of works of art made in this field. Ecological art consisted of more intimate, small-scale works depicting ice, rain, leaves, flowers, branches, etc. Art created using natural materials is documented and presented to the public through striking photographs or books. It aims to experience nature and communicate with nature by examining natural events, forces, and environmental problems, to regain vital connections, and to recreate, repair, and organize natural ecosystems. In this regard, Dr. Gökbel Yavuzoğlu emphasized ECOPRINT, which is the subject of our project, and talked about how this work is very supportive in terms of sustainable and ecological products. In the closing speech of the webinar, Dr. Tor stated that they are excitedly waiting for the Ecoprint applications with the participants, trainers, and representatives from North Macedonia, Kastamonu, and Poland in the second activity of the project to be held in North Macedonia.
