From Exploration to End of Life: Unpacking Sustainability in Physicalization Practices

Data physicalizations have gained prominence across domains, but theirenvironmental impact has been largely overlooked. This work addresses this gapby investigating the interplay between sustainability and physicalizationpractices. We conducted interviews with experts from diverse backgrounds,followed by a survey to gather insights into how they approach physicalizationprojects and reflect on sustainability. Our thematic analysis revealedsustainability considerations throughout the entire physicalization life cycle– a framework that encompasses various stages in a physicalization'sexistence. Notably, we found no single agreed-upon definition for sustainablephysicalizations, highlighting the complexity of integrating sustainabilityinto physicalization practices. We outline sustainability challenges andstrategies based on participants' experiences and propose the SustainablePhysicalization Practices (SuPPra) Matrix, providing a structured approach fordesigners to reflect on and enhance the environmental impact of their futurephysicalizations.