A truly unique event unfolded at the Lithuanian exhibition and Congress Centre LITEXPO on April 26, 2024. For the first time in history, a world record attempt on ecology was made, with the author and her team constructing a towering three-meter-high sculpture entirely from used disposable beverage cup lids.

The unique eco-themed event at the LITEXPO exhibition hall was initiated by Alisa Palavenis, a doctor of chemical sciences, pharmacist, eco-activist, and a visual artist who promotes society’s path to a greener tomorrow.

Legitimate and creative ways to solve eco-problems

In Lithuania, legislators and representatives of the arts are ready to address the massive, environmentally polluting impact of single-use packaging. In 2024, a groundbreaking eco-draft of the law submitted to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania envisions giving value to single-use packaging. This revolutionary step separates the price of a single-use package from the total cost of a drink or meal at public catering establishments.

Meanwhile, the dedicated representatives of art and science, through the unique lens of art, are striving to illustrate the absurd dependence of society on the harmful ‘conveniences’ of civilization, sparking admiration for their unwavering commitment to the cause.

Since 2019, when the author’s eco-awareness woke up, Alisa Palavenis has tirelessly cared for nature. Alisa and her husband Donatas collect plastic and other rubbish in nature, especially near water bodies – not only on the coast of Lithuanian rivers, lakes, and the Baltic Sea but even on tourist trips abroad.

In 2022, Alisa’s Palavenis eco-photo exhibition “Pick up or leave it – nobody’s rubbish in nature” was exhibited in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and, since then, has visited dozens of educational, business, cultural, and other public institutions throughout Lithuania. Vilnius “Santaros” gymnasium, Elena’s Mezginaitė and Petras’s Kriaučiūnas public libraries in Panevėžys and Marijampolė, respectively, and Lithuanian Museum of the History of Education in Kaunas could be mentioned, among others. This eco-photography exhibition still continues its tour, and in June-August 2024, it will be exhibited in the subdivision of Panevėžys Education Center RoboLabas mentioning World Environment Day.

In May – August 2023, at the joint eco exhibition at the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, called Exile to eternity, Alisa Palavenis and her colleague Simona Urnikaitė, both Doctors in Chemical Sciences, spoke earnestly and with humor about the impact of plastic waste on nature. The authors presented their first installations from used disposable hot-drink cup lids: Alisa’s “In Jang Confusion” and Simona’s comic series “Bear’s Message for Coffee Gourmets.”

Later, in September 2023, at the joint exhibition [NOT]CRITICISING, held at Kompresorine—Ideas Block LT, in Vilnius, Alisa Palavenis presented her new series of eco photographs and the sculpture made from used cup lids, called “Coffee-mania in the vicinity of Babylon,” which is, in fact, the prototype of the current sculpture being constructed for the world record.

About the eco-sculpture for the world record

The eco event—construction of the tallest sculpture from used disposable cup lids—at the LITEXPO exhibition hall is one of Alisa’s Palavenis latest eco-art projects. With her eco-initiatives for several years, Alisa cheerfully “infects” those around her, awakening their desire to create themselves and contribute to eco-art, a kind of message to current and future generations about a greener tomorrow.

For two years, Alisa collected used plastic lids of disposable hot-drink cups in nature and cities in Lithuania and beyond. Friends, acquaintances, one cafe chain, and even random passers-by contributed to this eco-initiative by collecting used cup lids.

All the collected lids underwent a thorough washing and drying process before being used in construction. This ensures that the sculpture appears clean and does not cause any unwanted microbiological contamination. It’s a crucial step in creating art objects from used, plastic, or other waste. The sculpture is a temporary installation made of plastic waste, so the artist must ensure its proper disposal. Alisa has pledged to deliver the plastic waste to the large waste collection site operated by UAB ‘VAATC’ in Vilnius. She also plans to set aside some of it for the creation of future art installations, having safely stored it in her art studio. This highlights the importance of responsible waste management in the overall journey towards a greener future.

Setting a world record on ecology – a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Victoria Chorna

Honorable guests from art, sports, and science participated in the event. They included Gytis Oržikauskas, the art critic and a Member of the National Cultural Heritage Commission of the Republic of Lithuania; Aušra Kriškoviečienė, the Head of the Lithuanian tricycle sports association; and Saulius Balevičius, a Lithuanian physicist and habilitated doctor of physical sciences.

The Commission of Independent Witnesses included Ieva Pakarklytė, a Member of the Parliament; Saulė Deveikytė, the Senior Advisor of the Waste Policy Group of the Ministry of the Environment; and Laura Petruškė, the expert architect. The witnesses recorded the results and evaluated whether the attempt to set a world record met all the requirements. Finally, in about a few months, the World Record Commission will announce whether the record attempt is verified.

With this record-breaking sculpture made from plastic cup lids, Alisa Palavenis aims to draw the global public’s attention to the immense and vacuous daily use of disposable, single-use plastic.

Moments from the event

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Victoria Chorna

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Emilija Jaksibogaitė

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Emilija Jaksibogaitė

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Victoria Chorna

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Victoria Chorna

Setting a world record on ecology– a three-meter sculpture from disposable beverage cup lids, first attempt, LITEXPO exhibition hall. Photo by Victoria Chorna