Data by Me, You, and Us: Exploring Data Transformation for Eco-Social Changes

Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental issues, posing significant risks to human health and marine ecosystems. Although efforts to ban single-use plastics are increasing, plastic pollution continues to escalate. Citizen science projects have been used to address this challenge, inviting communities to help observe, record, and remove plastic from marine environments to support environmental solutions and influence policy. However, this research argues that these efforts fall short in fostering behaviour change among participants, as data remains primarily a resource for analysis rather than a catalyst for social transformation. Shifting this perspective, the study explores the potential of citizen-generated data to act as a medium that inspires change by capturing citizens’ reflections, emotions, and insights on plastic consumption and waste. By applying the concept of meshwork to understand how data is interwoven in daily life, the project proposes an embodied approach to tracking plastic consumption through a collectively designed data-tracking kit and co-creation workshop. Told through a series of infographics and analyses, the paper proposes a new perspective on data as an active force in addressing complex environmental challenges, such as plastic waste, through citizen involvement and experiential learning.