Rethinking the Practice: Pathways Toward
More Sustainable Felting
Felting is frequently associated with nature. We work with wool, water, soap, and the movement of our hands—an ancestral technique deeply connected to raw matter and its transformation. Yet, throughout my own journey, I began to ask myself: is a technique made from natural fibers necessarily a sustainable practice? This text does not intend to set rules or define what is right or wrong in felting. It is simply an invitation to re-examine certain materials and procedures that, over time, we have come to take for granted. For me, this questioning started with bubble wrap.
When the Material Compromises the Art
Anyone learning wet felting today will likely encounter bubble wrap in their very first lessons. It is everywhere—in courses, videos, and books—becoming almost an extension of the technique itself. In the beginning of my learning process, however, I noticed I couldn’t achieve the specific results I saw in international courses and in the work of more experienced artists. Through forum discussions and research, I began to realize that the problem might not lie in my technique, but in the material itself. In Brazil, the bubble wrap easily found in stationery stores is usually very thin and fragile. In my experience, some of these materials cannot withstand the making of a single piece without tearing or flattening significantly. This is not just an environmental issue; it is a technical one. A beginner might believe they haven’t mastered the art when, in reality, they are trying to learn with an inadequate tool. Upon investigating further, I discovered more durable options. I found a type of bubble wrap made from recycled PET bottles—thicker, sturdier, and highly reusable. I bought a single roll. That very same roll accompanied me for about a decade and was used in countless projects and workshops. This experience made me realize something simple: durability is also sustainability. It is not enough to ask what a material is made of; perhaps we should also ask how long it remains in use.
Before Bubble Wrap, How Was Felt Made?
This question began to haunt me. Felting is an ancient art. It existed long before the industrial production of plastics. So why do we consider bubble wrap indispensable today?
Article by Karina Hatta sub region 18 Latin America