Message In A Bottle

Congratulations! You just scrolled through 450 YEARS

A bottle made in 2023 disintegrates in 2473

Though its pieces
will never biodegrade
(even if it’s recycled)

Close up of an hand with hundreds of specs of microplastics

While we’re on the subject,

did you know…

I hear you! But what can I actually do?

Fight Back!

I’ve released 100% biodegradable “450 YRS” stickers to tell companies we need better options!

A 1.25 inch sticker on a Poland Spring bottle that says: 'This plastic will exist for at least 450 years. Tag this company on social media and tell them we need better options.''

A 1.25 inch sticker on a Tide bottle that says: 'This plastic will exist for at least 450 years. Tag this company on social media and tell them we need better options.'

A 1.25 inch sticker on a Windex bottle that says: 'This plastic will exist for at least 450 years. Tag this company on social media and tell them we need better options.'

A mockup of a roughly 30 1.25 inch stickers on a single sheet that say: 'This plastic will exist for at least 450 years. Tag this company on social media and tell them we need better options.'

Make your voice heard!
Get stickers or sign-up for updates

Credits

Concept/Design/Development

Eric Corriel

Eric is a public installation artist living in New York City where he teaches art and activism at School of Visual Arts.

Follow him on Instagram • Twitter • Facebook or sign up for his newsletter.

Human Impacts Institute Environmental Fellow and Collaborator

Lisa Bloodgood

Director of Advocacy & Education, Newtown Creek Alliance

Video of the project projected on the Manhattan Bridge at night. Video contents: 'It is the year 2215, Water Wars sprout up everywhere — *Message In A Bottle* was projected on the Manhattan Bridge as part of the 2021 Creative Climate Awards.

Awesome institutions without which this would have never been done

I have worked with Human Impacts Institute since 2018 and this project is a product of their Artist Impact Fellowship, which I was fortunate to be a part of in 2021. In short, HII believes the arts play a critical role in advancing society towards a more just, equal, and beautiful future and have been working towards those goals since 2011.

In 2021, I teamed up Lisa Bloodgood at Newtown Creek Alliance as part of Human Impact Institute’s Artist Impact Fellowship. Located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn; NCA is engaged in restoring and revitalizing neighborhoods surrounding Newtown Creek. They also have a beautiful rooftop garden, which I highly recommend visiting.

NYC Department of Sanitation was very gracious in offering me a ride-along during one of their garbage and recycling pickups in Greenpoint, Brooklyn–the first time I ever had to be at a 5:30AM meeting!

I am thankful to Waste Management for organizing a visit to their Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Philadelphia, PA. The amount of sorting and recycling they do on a daily basis is astounding.