Plastic is often misunderstood. Plastic Revolution gives young people the opportunity to discover its value through hands-on learning, design and making.

Over six weeks, more than 520 pupils and 60 members of staff at Nottingham Primary Academy took part in the STEAM programme, exploring materials, recycling and manufacturing.

Nottingham Primary Academy pupils with recycled plastic planters created through Future Makers Plastic Revolution

A school challenge becomes a community movement

The project launched with a whole-school assembly, followed by a visit from The Worshipful Company of Horners , who introduced pupils to the history of materials and polymers.

The challenge was simple: fill the bottle top collector.

Families and local businesses joined in and within four weeks 10,500 bottle tops were collected, recovering 22.85kg of plastic for its next life.

Plastic Revolution launch assembly at Nottingham Primary Academy

The Worshipful Company of Horners speaking with Eco Leaders

Pupils collecting bottle tops for Plastic Revolution

Discovering the value of plastic

The Eco Leaders visited Future Makers to follow their collected plastic through the recycling journey. They emptied the bottle top collector, weighed samples, identified plastic types using our near-infrared (NIR) scanner, sorted the material by colour and watched it become recycled plastic granulate.

Pupils at Nottingham Primary Academy with a filled bottle top collector

The Eco Leaders arriving at Future Makers

The Eco Leaders having a tour at Future Makers studio

Eco Leaders emptying the bottle top collector

Eco Leaders counting a sample of bottle tops

Eco Leaders identifying plastic with the Plastell device

Eco Leaders sorting their school colour purple form the bottle tops

Eco Leaders holding the granulated purple bottle tops

The recycled plastic granulate was pressed into bespoke sheet material and fabricated into two permanent outdoor planters, designed with input from the Eco Leaders and the school’s colours.

Granulated bottle tops being poured into the mould cassette with a purple corner

The granulated plastic in the mould cassette with a purple corner

A sheet produced by the sheet press with a biscuit joint ready for joining

A planter assembled in Future Makers workshop with two purple corners

The project concluded with a celebration assembly, where the Eco Leaders unveiled the finished planters to the whole school. The planters now stand at the front of Nottingham Primary Academy as a lasting reminder of what they achieved together.

Celebration assembly at Nottingham Primary Academy

Eco Leaders standing at the front in celebration assembly

Eco Leaders about to unveil the planter in assembly

Eco Leader standing at the front with unveiled planter with Tristan and Gill

The impact speaks for itself

Mrs Croft, Eco Leader Teacher at Nottingham Primary Academy, said:
“The children came together as a school community and were incredibly proud of what they achieved.”
Head Teacher Mr Staszkiewicz added:
“This project has delivered more value than we could have predicted. The whole school embraced it.”
Wayne Norrie OBE, CEO of Greenwood Academies Trust, said:
“The Plastic Revolution Challenge is a fantastic example of how education and industry can work together to create meaningful experiences that benefit not only our pupils, but the wider school community.”

Growing momentum

Supported by The Worshipful Company of Horners, Plastic Revolution has been showcased through Interplas, the British Plastics Federation Plastics Recycling & Sustainability Conference, the Horners Polymer OUTPOST and wider industry networks.

The Nottingham Primary Academy project demonstrates how schools, industry and communities can come together through hands-on learning, with a model that can grow to reach more schools.

Rapid News BP&R interview with Tristan, Gill and Stefaan

Horners first Midlands Outpost at Future Makers

Tristan interview on Earthy Stuff with Jessica Davanzo

Join the next chapter

Future Makers is seeking partners and sponsors to bring Plastic Revolution to more schools, giving young people hands-on experience of plastic, manufacturing and the circular economy.

Find out more on our Plastic Revolution page or contact Hello@future-makers.co.uk to discuss becoming a project partner or sponsor.

Nottingham Primary Academy Turns Plastic into Planters