The popular Greek artist emphasises the importance of recycling through a new photography awareness campaign in partnership with Kathe Kouti Metrai, the Every Can Counts programme in Greece.
Photographs by architect Costas Spathis, often inspired by nature and Greece, travel across the globe. His unique outlook on the world, which is both abstract and totally symmetrical, has earned him 360.000 followers on Instagram, while his images convey different messages through his dynamic ‘less is more’ philosophy. It is this unique outlook and his love of nature that encouraged our initiative in Greece to appoint him as artistic director of its new public awareness campaign on the benefits of aluminium can recycling and circular economy.
When asked about the campaign, Spathis stated: “Through the art of photography and generally through my work, I try to make people more conscious of the environment; I try to promote the grandeur of nature and highlight the value of recycling. Through this collaboration, I aim to emphasise the unique properties of aluminium as a sustainable packaging material, as well as the significant efforts being made by Kathe Kouti Metrai. As part of this campaign, I am creating messages by stressing the relationship between man and can, and using shapes and compositions featuring aluminium drink cans”.
Aluminium is a valuable material that does not belong in the general waste bin. It can enjoy endless life cycles and take on thousands of forms. Aluminium cans are recycled far more frequently than any other packaging worldwide, thus saving 95% energy compared to their primary production. Their recycling also contributes to an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions, which are responsible for the greenhouse effect. The perpetual life cycle of aluminium drink cans is what inspired Spathis, since aluminium can be recycled while still maintaining its quality. His images remind people to throw their empty cans in the right bin, thus embracing circular economy and r contributing to a more sustainable future for the planet.
Recycling out of home: We can do better
Even though recycling is now a way of life in most households, recycling out of home has not yet found the place it deserves in people’s conscience. In Greece, the average rate of aluminium can recycling is 55%, which makes the programme’s presence in the country even more important, since its goal is to inform and encourage people to recycle every soft drink, beer or water can, wherever they are. According to Eirini Topouzidou, the Every Can Counts programme manager in Greece, “every can that finds its way into the right bin saves energy and natural resources, and brings us one step closer to a sustainable way of life. Spathis’ photographs manage to get this message across in the best way possible, and also express the philosophy of our programme, which is always in search of creative ways to inspire people to change their habits and view recycling in a different light”.
The awareness campaign was well received by the greek media and was featured in popular websites and magazines.
K Magazine
https://bit.ly/3FQM30Y
in.gr
https://bit.ly/3w8WglW