British Plastics Federation introduces polymer science and recycling educational resource for UK school children

06 Aug 2021 --- The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is launching an educational resource for UK school children aged seven to 11 years old in collaboration with PlasticsEurope and British charity Recoup. The move aims to teach more about recycling plastics and the science of polymers.

“It is important for younger generations to understand what happens to their recycling once it is collected, this allows a better understanding of the benefits of recycling,” Matt Davies, industry and sustainability manager at BPF, tells PackagingInsights .

“The end goal is to help schools and teachers educate students about properties of materials, why they’re used and also about sustainability. Without this education, students may not fully realize why different polymers are used, or how beneficial the recycling process is to sustainability.”

The resource is tied to the UK’s national school curriculum and contains features for aspiring industry professionals, teachers, and public members interested in learning about the environment. It is published in the Times Educational Supplement and the BPF’s PolymerZone website.

The resource is made available online and targeted at school children throughout the UK.Teaching polymers, learning recycling
The resource contains basic information concerning different material types, how to recognize packaging codes, how to separate and dispose of waste correctly, and the importance of recycling for the environment.

For example, students are taught to spot and sort standard industrial classification codes for materials like PET, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

Which of these material types pertains to different household items is demonstrated in pictures, with discussions over where people will find certain items in the house.

Students also learn that different polymers can have different physical properties through basic scientific testing, such as a sink or float test demonstrating material weight.

Pupils then learn about the importance of the recycling process and the energy required for waste management infrastructure.

Fighting waste at grassroots
The collaboration says the project will ensure the next generation knows enough about plastic to do their part in separating and recycling waste materials properly – actions for which the industry cannot take responsibility.

“We have welcomed the opportunity to be part of creating this unique plastic recycling resource for schools. Our aim is that by using this valuable resource, young citizens will understand the importance of their contribution in driving up recycling rates and the associated reductions in littering,” says PlasticsEurope resource efficiency senior manager Adrian Whyle.

“Equipped with this knowledge, they too can become agents for change in helping society reach its Circular Economy objectives while at the same time mitigating against climate change.”

The resource is available free online for teachers and students.Consumer awareness and action will always be necessary, says BPF, despite industry’s improvements to the current plastic waste crisis via deposit return schemes and extended producer responsibility programs.

An important element of encouraging this maintains the collaboration by engaging young people early to emphasize their importance in these processes. In similar strides, Amcor invested US$10 million in Michigan State University’s School of Packaging this week to help train the future generation of packaging specialists.

“These experiments are an engaging way to educate young people about plastics and challenge students to think about the material in a scientific way,” says Anne Hitch, head of citizen and stakeholder strategy at Recoup.

“This type of education is crucial if we are to recruit the innovative plastics scientists of tomorrow.”

By Louis Gore-Langton

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