The material politics of plastic: living differently for the future

Plastic materials pose environmental and other problems around the world today. This thesis explores the experiences, activities and perspectives of people who avoid plastic materials in Australia. This group of people shared experiences of avoiding plastics at the household level, revealing a distinctive form of politics which I describe as ‘the material politics of plastic’. This politics involves hard work, emotions, caring, and changes in the way people live. Pioneering innovative ways of living with less plastics is led by women undertaking care work at home. Avoiding plastics is a tangible way for people to act against global environmental crises.