Vertical Divider
Pelucco is a polyester microplastic fiber that helps me explain both the marvels of plastic and the problems associated with ocean plastic and microplastic pollution.
He describes his history in his own words: "I had a lifelong mission to accomplish. But an unexpected journey through pipes and rivers revealed a shocking truth. Then, Mother Earth assigned me a new and almost impossible mission to achieve: save the ocean from plastic and microplastic pollution!" Why? |
Plastic pollution is already everywhere. The water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat. Our ocean is full of plastic waste, from big ghost nets, bags and bottles to tiny microscopic plastic debris called microplastics and the almost "invisible" nanoplastics.
So, through different approaches (webinars, YouTube videos, and different kinds of events), I communicate to people the dangers of microplastic pollution and the actions we can make every day to stop microplastic inputs into the environment.
So, through different approaches (webinars, YouTube videos, and different kinds of events), I communicate to people the dangers of microplastic pollution and the actions we can make every day to stop microplastic inputs into the environment.
Vertical Divider
The beginning
One morning during my outreach activities for early childhoods (3-6 yr), I made to my young public one key question. I asked: "Do you know what plastic is?" I was expecting a simple response like "my water bottle", "my chair", or even "my backpack" because I was observing all the plastic stuff that was present in our classroom. However, the answer the children gave me in unison shocked me. Without any doubt, children said: "Plastic is ocean pollution". So, that morning, I discovered that plastic means ocean pollution for the younger minds of our world. In other (worrying) words, children think that the words plastic and pollution are synonyms! As a materials scientist, I got really committed to providing information to kids regarding that marvellous material called plastic, alongside the humanity’s role that allowed the poor plastic to have such a bad reputation: plastic waste only exists because we allow it! |
Children (age 3-6) learning the generation mechanism of secondary microplastics during an Italian summer camp.
|
Vertical Divider
Pelucco was born
In 2020, I developed a character that could help me explain the introduction of microplastics into the ocean, describing how these tiny plastic particles can travel through pipes and rivers and reach the sea. I called him Pelucco (an Italian word that means lint or filament; the term is also used for polyester chips). Pelucco is a polyester microplastic fiber with one big and noble mission: helping me teach younger minds both the marvels of plastic and the problems associated with ocean microplastic pollution. |
Pelucco's first draft.Translation from Spanish: "Scene 1: Pelucco is a component of an invernal jersey. His mommy is near to him"
|
Vertical Divider
Pelucco and his friends teach Italian children about microplastic pollution
I also developed other microplastic (not fibers) characters. With my husband (a writer), I wrote a 7-chapter column named "Pelucco's diary" for Lo Spunk il giornale delle bambine e dei bambini, an Italian children's journal from Bacchilega Junior. Our aim was to illustrate to children the different environmental impacts of microplastic pollution, highlighted by the journey of Pelucco and his friends from land to the ocean. |
Pelucco turns into a children's storybook
Sometime later, we realized that plastic and microplastic pollution have no borders and have spread to the farthest corners of the globe. Pelucco's story should also reach everyone who wishes to protect Mother Earth from this environmental issue. For this reason, we decided to publish Pelucco's story in the form of an illustrated book which explains the marvels of plastic material and the impacts of inadequate plastic disposal, considered one of the leading causes of secondary microplastic pollution. Of course, the book concludes with advice to decrease microplastic inputs into the ocean.
Sometime later, we realized that plastic and microplastic pollution have no borders and have spread to the farthest corners of the globe. Pelucco's story should also reach everyone who wishes to protect Mother Earth from this environmental issue. For this reason, we decided to publish Pelucco's story in the form of an illustrated book which explains the marvels of plastic material and the impacts of inadequate plastic disposal, considered one of the leading causes of secondary microplastic pollution. Of course, the book concludes with advice to decrease microplastic inputs into the ocean.
Vertical Divider
Currently, Pelucco's book is available in three languages: Italian: amzn.to/48DaH1J Spanish: amzn.to/433sWfS English: amzn.to/3T3eQXa Translation of Pelucco's book to Portuguese, Catalan and French languages is currently in progress. We are also working on a third edition that will include a set of technical cards written by some experts within the microplastic pollution field (from Italy and Brazil). Those cards will further illustrate the complexity of environmental plastic and microplastic pollution. |
Pelucco wins Italian readers' hearts
Several literary awards in which we have participated have selected Pelucco's story among their winners. We thank the juries of these awards for their support to our project.
Several literary awards in which we have participated have selected Pelucco's story among their winners. We thank the juries of these awards for their support to our project.
- Winner of the Navokov Kids section 18th edition in the Nabokov Award 2023.
- Winner of the 11th International Literary Competition "Locanda del Doge" 2023 as best Children's Fiction Book.
- 2nd prize in the 7th edition (2023) of the "Premio Internazionale Castrovillari Città Cultura" in the section Literature for Children.
- Finalist of the 17th edition (2023) of the International Literary Prize "Massa, Città Fiabesca di Mare e di Marmo" in the Children's Fiction Book section.
- Mention of Merit in the International Literary Prize "Le Pietre di Anuaria" 2023 in the Children's Fiction Book section.
Copyright ©2023 Erika Iveth Cedillo González, All Right Reserved