Name: How I built a toaster -- from scratch
Uploaded: 2011-01-12T16:17:00Z
Duration: 10 min 34 s
Description: It takes an entire civilization to build a toaster. Designer Thomas Thwaites found out the hard way, by attempting to build one from scratch: mining ore for steel, deriving plastic from oil ... it's frankly amazing he got as far as he got. A parable of our interconnected society, for designers and consumers alike.

It takes an entire civilization to build a toaster. Designer Thomas Thwaites found out the hard way, by attempting to build one from scratch: mining ore for steel, deriving plastic from oil ... it's frankly amazing he got as far as he got. A parable of our interconnected society, for designers and consumers alike.

Thomas Thwaites: How I built a toaster -- from scratch

How I built a toaster -- from scratch

Creating a toaster from scratch unveils the intricate web of global cooperation needed for everyday objects we take for granted.

Attempts to craft a toaster's components highlight our reliance on advanced technology and the hidden complexities of modern manufacturing.

Mining modern-day 'rock' for plastic demonstrates the profound impact humans have on the Earth, signaling the dawn of the Anthropocene.