Social Network Analysis of Public Design Cases Using Recycled Waste Plastics

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, examples of recycling methods and their implementations that can apply waste plastics to public designs were investigated, and their relationships were identified. Method: Pinterest, an image-based social networking service and social bookmarking site was selected as a data search tool. Descriptive statistical analysis and social network analysis (SNA) were used as analysis methods in this study. Result: The waste plastic recycling method through modular construction combining units was most frequently applied to public designs. This method was calculated to have the strongest influence. It can be inferred that this is due to the characteristics that can derive results with various functions and forms of waste plastics. Artistic installation technique was also investigated as a frequently used recycling method. This method can express works with only design thinking and without any specific recycling processing technology; it was mainly applied to the installation of sculptures in which important ideas related to environmental protection and sustainability were visualized. Furniture and building components were found to be the most frequently appearing implementations. In the implementations regarding furniture, the methods of replacing wood with waste plastic or implementing various shapes through 3D printing were dominant. A public design has a very high waste plastic capacity; therefore, it can effectively contribute to waste plastic treatment and recycling. It is expected that the results of this study will be utilized to prepare effective alternatives for the treatment of large amounts of waste plastics during urban planning.