Inspiring the Next Generation Through Plastic Recycling Workshops
How do we inspire the next generation to think differently about plastic waste and sustainability?
Between September 2024 and January 2025, Future Makers explored this question through a series of hands on plastic recycling workshops in collaboration with Nottingham College, supporting students to design and create outdoor planters for their campus. This pilot project was funded by UKSPF Nottingham Open Call 6 - Green and Low Carbon Skills.
Following its success, we ran a follow-up project, ‘Wilding Campuses’, in January 2025, where students assembled recycled plastic bird boxes. This was delivered in collaboration with Liz Morley (You Grow Gardens) and the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, with funding from Students Organising for Sustainability/National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Nottingham College Learners with Liz Morley, Bird Box Workshop at Future Makers Studio
Transforming Plastic. Educating for Impact.
These educational recycling workshops were designed to engage students with the full lifecycle of plastic, from waste stream to valuable products, while inspiring them to take real, positive action in their communities. Participants from Nottingham College and interns from Nottingham Trent University worked together to explore how creative sustainability can become a part of their everyday thinking and future careers.
Here’s how the perceptions of some of the learners developed throughout the projects:
“My perception of plastic is more positive after the workshop and it was very interesting to see how plastic can be recycled into something that can be useful and not just put in landfill.”
“The media portrays plastic as a bad thing but gaining more knowledge about the plastic industry and what can be achieved made me excited to work with plastic and think of better ways to utilise it without harming the environment.”
“I learned that plastic is a more recyclable material than people realise and the designs and uses that can come out of it are very beautiful and complex.”
Plastic recycling isn’t just about reducing waste. It’s about transformation of materials, mindsets and environments.
Creative Workshops at Future Makers
All four workshops took place at our Plastic Recycling Design Studio in Nottingham. Each began with an engaging introduction to the challenges of plastic waste and the opportunities within the circular economy. Students toured the studio to see the specialist equipment we use in our design studio - shredders, injection moulding and compression moulding machinery and got stuck into the process.
In the first set of workshops, learners created outdoor planters using sorted, shredded and thermoformed recycled plastic. These were later installed at one of the Nottingham College campuses. During the ‘Wilding Campuses’ workshops, students used recycled plastic to create bird boxes, designed by Toby Maurice (Designer in Residence) and Janis Zube (Workshop Technician) in consultation with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
These creative products demonstrated how recycled plastic can be reimagined into purposeful, artistic assets that enhance both learning spaces and local biodiversity.
Hands On Learning With Real World Results
In addition to making planters and bird boxes, students explored other recycling techniques, like colour-sorting 3D printer filament and using manual injection moulding machines.
These hands on sessions gave learners a full understanding of the recycling journey and revealed how recycled plastic can drive innovation, creativity and sustainability.
"We've learned so much from our workshops at Future Makers. It's been so valuable for our college students to learn the process of how plastic is recycled and to actually, physically do it themselves."
Liz Morley, Project Manager, Wilding Campuses
"Future Makers exists to transform how we think about waste - especially plastic. By helping students gain practical, creative experience in recycling, we’re shaping the designers, makers and change makers of tomorrow."
— Tristan Hessing, Managing Director, Future Makers
Creating a Lasting Impact
The finished planters and bird boxes are now in use across Nottingham College, serving as a daily reminder of what’s possible through creative reuse and environmental education.
We believe it’s vital to teach the next generation about the process of plastic recycling in addition to the wider impact on communities, wildlife and the planet.
Thanks to funding from UKSPF and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we were able to deliver these workshops to students from diverse backgrounds, showcasing a replicable model for sustainability education.
Looking for a Funding Partner? Let's Collaborate.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with schools, colleges, universities and community organisations as a delivery partner on educational, sustainability focused projects. We are especially interested in working with those applying for funding via:
Arts Council England
Innovate UK
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
We offer a fully equipped plastic recycling studio, tailored learning experiences and creative support in delivering outcomes that combine sustainability, skills development and community benefit.
Are You an Educator?
If you're looking for plastic recycling workshops for students, we’d love to hear from you. We provide engaging, hands-on workshops that connect sustainability, creativity and real-world skills.
👉 Get in touch to discuss how we can work together.
Artists, Makers and Businesses - Get Involved!
Whether you're a business looking to sponsor educational impact, or a creative professional interested in sustainable materials, we’d love to collaborate.
✅ Studio space available for hire
✅ Opportunities for B2B partnerships and CSR alignment
✅ A growing creative community committed to the Plastic Revolution