How to give material a second lease of life: upcycling ideas challenge
On the occasion of the World Recycling Day on March 18, ETH Sustainability invited the ETH community to submit creative ideas for upcycling opportunities at the university. Winston's idea won the draw.
“My idea was to make leftover material available to students. Anything that can still be used should be offered on a public platform before it is thrown away. ”Winston Rohmann, student in Mechanical Engineering, ETH Zurich
Winston continues: “What is still usable and for which there is no established recycling process should first be offered on a public platform before it is disposed of. In the city of Zurich, this is common practice: furniture, dishes and other material are offered to the community on the street. Only what is not picked up is discarded. A simple yet efficient solution, considering that things disappear from the street within a few days.
I would also implement a similar principle at ETH. Before something is thrown away, it could be posted online, for example, so that interested parties have the opportunity to pick it up. Even if a project or repair should ultimately fail, at least there would be a learning effect and awareness of sustainability would be strengthened.”
A first exchange on Winston's idea already took place with the Student Project House.
Recycling and Upcycling at ETH
ETH Sustainability supports the exchange within the ETH community on new, creative concepts in the field of upcycling and recycling and would like to take this opportunity to once again express its gratitude for the creative ideas submitted in response to the upcycling ideas challenge.
In a draw of all the upcycling ideas submitted, Winston's idea won – he can now look forward to a bag made from a tarpaulin from the upcycling range of the ETH Store.
Even though the competition is now closed, ETH Sustainability is still looking forward to innovative ideas and contributions on all aspects of sustainability and exciting sustainability stories. Just write to us with your ideas on sustainability, recycling and upcycling: sustainability@ethz.ch