School of the Art Institute of Chicago - G.M. Paperworks (2024)

Mari Xiao, Vetrix Ling, Liz Harper
Garlic mustard is a biennial plant that is invasive to almost two-thirds of North America and heavily disrupts native ecosystems in Illinois. Existing efforts to curb their population are done so by pulling these plants out of the ground. However, most garlic mustard ends up in landfills, producing methane gas. G.M. Paperworks seeks to prevent plant matter from going to waste by making paper from garlic mustards; raising awareness through workshops, social media, and sales of products; and promoting circularity.