Environmental Ethics of Modelling

[rickerzipper]

Hi All,

Big Subject if one starts to think about what we use and do to make our art. I started thinking a few days ago what impact I am having on the environment, short and long term. I began these thoughts because I have a 16-month-old daughter who I care for dearly and I want her to experience this planet as I have done so.

I would like to know from you what I can do to reduce the environmental impact of our hobby (paints, thinners, polish, glue, waste...). I know I could give up modelling entirely, but I love building. I suppose I am looking for the best for Planet Earth and our hobby.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers,

Rick

Ps I used the search engine, sorry no matches.

[gionc]

That's fantastic Rick: I'm wondering about it from ages, but I ever waited "someone other" do it for me LOL

What I meant is to create a "task force" inside here to study the problem in two dyrection: what you said, environmental respect, but also healt implication running our hobby.

I'm wondering just a simple things: we're used to classify models and product with cost and quality characteristics: we'll start to consider also other factors.

Like for you, I have 3 little devils, Leo is too little but Nino and Megghy started to mess up my stuff. Know that they do it in a safe (ok safe as possible) way may let me sleep quiet.

Thanks Rick!

[DSM-Mark]

My waste is 1/24th scale

[rickerzipper]

Originally Posted by DSM-Mark

My waste is 1/24th scale

Sorry, I don't understand.


Gionc, great Ideas.


Cheers,

Rick

[rsxse240]

I wouldn't worry to much about the environmental aspect of model building to much, really. comparably, I would think that we would represent less than one billionth of a percent of the toxic waste that is put out by many other industries.

But it is a step in the right direction. I'd suggest just minimizing your waste, and recovering all you possibly can of anything sprayed, or otherwise released into the atmosphere by using filters, and spray booths with filters properly used in there. Another thing would be to reduce the volume of waste by shredding the sprues or recycling them.

Use of non toxic, and water based paints would be another way to be "Earth Friendly". Excellent results can be achieved with non toxic paints and cements, I know, I've done it. It takes practice, but it is possible.

If one were to start an incentive program to forward recycling, and reduction of pollution, people would SURELY get on the band wagon. A program that gives you free kits for every few you send back the sprues for recycling, or hobby store credits for showing a functional environmentally friendly hobby room. I'd be on it! unfortunately it cost money to be environmentally friendly. filters are expensive, and need to be replaced from time to time. That PERFECT color may not be available in acrylic based paints. etc...

I'm glad to see others are thinking more healthy rather than just dumping old thinner down the drain (I drink well water, so I don't have the added benefit of city filtration/purification) so I am directly effected by what is dumped in the ground.

[MPWR]

Definitely an interesting topic- thanks for posting it.

It's certainly something I've thought of before. If we can poison ourselves with the chemicals we use in this hobby, surely we can also poison the world around us.

But I'm given to think that with some care and consideration, the environmental damage from this crap can be minimized or eliminated. With such thought, I expect that the environmental impact to modeling can be very modest compared to a number of other hobbies.

Some more thoughts on reducing impact:
-avoid spraycans. Airbrushes are much more efficient, and spray cans can be hard to recycle/dispose of.
-Reduce/eliminate the use of laquers and enamels as much as reasonable possible.
-Responsibly dispose of all thinners, solvents, and other chemicals.
-Use the least toxic substances for a task that you can. For instance, don't use brake fluid for stripping- alcohol does it fine.

Granted, much of your efforts can be undone by the careless idiot who strips his builds in brake fluid, and then chucks it down the drain (or the like). Done iresponably, this hobby can obviously have strong negative environmental impact. But ultimately we each can be responsible for our own actions. I'm certainly happy to hear that I'm not the only person who gives thought to such considerations.

[Layla's Keeper]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to use lacquer until the day it kills me. I've tried the very best acrylics offered and they still don't give the quality coverage of my tried and true lacquers.

Brake fluid strips paint more efficiently, and being a mechanic I have plenty of used brake fluid every time I bleed a brake system.

I reuse my sprue in scratchbuilding (I've even learned you can use a large bottle of liquid cement and a few cut chunks of sprue to cast your own styrene parts) and I never have leftover thinner to begin with (properly cleaning brushes and airbrushes, along with cutting nail polish down to paint viscosity, really uses up the stuff).

If you think that I'm irresponsible because I'm not going to use inferior products just to be "green" then so be it. But in being an effective modeler who uses products efficiently and sparingly, I do my part naturally without sacrificing a good model.

And if we're to be entirely honest with ourselves, it's the same as the argument about "greener" motorsport. Yes, you can make motorsport greener, but the truth of the matter is that it's such a fractionally small portion of the problem that it doesn't make a difference - especially compared to things like cleaning up China's coal power plants, limiting Brazil's deforestation practices, and reducing industrial heavy metals (like mercury and lead) in the Great Lakes.

[bikouros]

I don't mean to sound crude or anything, but isin't trying to reduce our modeling waste basiclly the equivalent to pissing onto the lake to make the water level rise?

[willimo]

While I don't read Mother Jones, I can admit to being about as hippy as you can get. Nevertheless, I kind of agree with Layla's Keeper and bikouros.

The impact we as modelers have on the environment is negligible in the face of industry which is largely unregulated in the country, and many others. I do my part by reclaiming all the hazardous chemicals I can, and trying to limit waste period - both just extensions of how I conduct all aspects of my life. But there are things I have to accept. I do use harsh chemicals, and will continue to until I find good alternatives. I expend a lot of energy by my tools; Dremels, compressors, fans, bright lights, and computers.

It's commendable that these aspects of our hobby are considered, but there are far bigger fish to fry at this point, even among our own personal daily habits. Yes, we all should try to adjust the way we do things personally, to begin to affect change; but worrying over a few pounds of chemicals a year, but neglecting things like carpooling and mass transit, water conservation, energy efficient lighting, proper home insulation, and recycling seems foolish. Now, I don't claim that those of you voicing your concerns over modeling are not taking these steps, but how many people do you know aren't? (You Europeans, admittedly, will be better about this than us Americans) Any of these things can restrict way more waste, hazardous and otherwise, than even quitting modeling entirely would.

The analogy to motorsport is perfect. I actually know people who are very upset with motorsport because it goes largely unrestricted. Cars with no catalytic converters race around getting fuel mileage that make only OPEC happy, but I can bet that the amount of pollutants generated by a motor race pales against the amount generated by a well kept lawn. But people are more apt to blame motorsport than landscapers for our problems, right? And, while this is a bit tangential and not applicable to the modeling argument - a polluting engine is an inefficient engine, who races inefficient engines? And what comes of the technology developed first for motorsport?

In any case, I agree that modelers, like everyone, should limit their pollutants as best we can. However, this is a hobby enjoyed by so few people, with such largely innocuous waste (some paints, brake fluid, and some chemicals are indeed quite hazardous, but easily disposed of properly), I really feel it's a non issue. If it's important to you to use water soluble paints (most modern lacquers are, surprisingly, easy degraded), and shred your sprued (how well do you think those sprues fare against the compactors in the garbage trucks?), please by all means do so! We should consider it, but by no means should we really change our habits. If we have good habits already, caring for hobby related concerns should be no problem.

[klutz_100]

Eloquently put, Will.

I'm 99% with you.

The last 1% of me (and it's a BIG 1% ) says that we have serious environmental issues already that are set to explode on our kids' generation in a few years. Therefore, the right thing being done by everyone, everywhere, every time is the only solution - and that includes modeling even if it's only a small percentage of the problem.

If we all say "My little bit doesn't change anything", then indeed nothing changes. If we all change little bits, then big things change.

This thread made me realise that, although I consider myself moderately and environmentally friendly, I actually do virtually NOTHING to reflect that in my hobby. Now I will - I'll start by segregating the crap that goes into the waste bin in my workshop.

[cyberkid]

I agree with Layla's Keeper, bikouros and Wil... But I will try to help without changing my habbits too much..

For the hobby, I recycle whatever I can. I have started cutting open empty spray cans to take out the marbles and plastic and recycle everything apart from the marbles. The same goes for everything else I use in the hobby.
But the fact is that 1 drive to your LHS will actually create more pollution that you create when making at least 1 model...
Sure, pollution is created in many ways, and there are many ways for us to cut down pollution. It just depends on wether we are willing to 'sacrafice', in most cases convenience, to let Earth live a little longer.
I ride a bicycle whenever I don't need to carry a whole lot of stuff. I think that this is more practicle than recycling what is left from modeling, but still, every little bit counts.
My
Steve

[gionc]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Eloquently put, Will.

I'm 99% with you.

The last 1% of me (and it's a BIG 1% ) says that we have serious environmental issues already that are set to explode on our kids' generation in a few years. Therefore, the right thing being done by everyone, everywhere, every time is the only solution - and that includes modeling even if it's only a small percentage of the problem.

If we all say "My little bit doesn't change anything", then indeed nothing changes. If we all change little bits, then big things change.

This thread made me realise that, although I consider myself moderately and environmentally friendly, I actually do virtually NOTHING to reflect that in my hobby. Now I will - I'll start by segregating the crap that goes into the waste bin in my workshop.

Great translation of my Italian point LOL. Nothing to add, except:

what I meant for the moment is to be informed, aware of what we do and of the crap we daily use. If I know I'll also decide if my extra efforts to try "to be green" would be useful for the environmental issues, without consider that we're thousands only in this site.

If our little crap wouldn't make the mother earth situation worst, they may (probably) switch our personal good healt to sick. Probably meant that I dunno know: keep information on it may only be a good thing.

And since we're a variegated group here I suspect we would have some chemist, doctors, green's activist between us, at least I hope.

[DSM-Mark]

Originally Posted by rickerzipper

Sorry, I don't understand.


Gionc, great Ideas.


Cheers,

Rick

I meant it as a light bit of humor, but I forgot that this board didn't get the funny memo.

But it does sum up my thoughts. While I share your concern for the environment, I don't think I've generated all that much waste with this hobby. I make more waste in the kitchen in a week than I make at this hobby in 2 years... and I'm a recycler.

[SeanyG]

apart from using rattle cans and carelessly disposing of liquids, I really think modeling is a planet friendly hobby... and I agree 1000,000,000% there are an awful lot more important daily actions we do that do more damage to our beautiful and fragile planet in a day than modeling can do in a year eg. driving our cars, using excess electricity, not recycling, wasting water etc etc etc.

I admire your thoughts but in terms of doing the planet good we need to concentrate elsewhere!

[drunken monkey]

The biggest area of pollution of any industry is in the processes involved way before you get your hands on the kit.

In this case, the base questions are, how do they make plastic?
How do they process basic materials?
How do they end up as what get on our shelves?
How do they get to our shelves?

The same questions have to be asked for secondary materials such as paint and glues.

As for the using airbrush over aerosol to reduce your impact.
This is only true if you don't use aerosols at all. If you're decanting paint from a can then shooting it with an airbrush, you have just wasted the energy used in putting that paint in that can and added more energy into the painting process. Of course, that doesn't deal with the waste/re-use/recycle issues but it points to how things should be looked at.