Hong Kong Ocean Park Conservation Alliance invited a local plastic upcycling studio, Gaau1 Up Design Studio, to provide an enjoyable and instructive plastic upcycling workshop for students and parents on the 11th and 18th May 2024. Through expert instruction, participants gained valuable experience transforming waste into products.
At the beginning of the workshop, the tutors illuminated the lifecycle of plastic, from collecting plastic waste to reshaping it. They helped participants understand that plastic recycling is not a straightforward process and emphasised its importance. The tutors also explained how to sort plastic by type and the characteristics of various plastics.
The tutors had independently developed two machines specifically for processing recycled plastic, which they brought along. Participants first turned the plastic wastes into flakes using the “Manual Shredder” and then re-moulded plastic with the “Injection Machine”. As the shredder was designed for adult use, younger students required assistance from their parents to operate the machine. It was not easy for kindergarten and primary school students, though they persevered, working diligently to gradually break up the plastic bottles piece by piece by pedalling the shredder. The students evidently enjoyed the concept of the shredder, finding that they could exercise their bodies while breaking down plastic simultaneously!
Having completed the shredding process, the plastic flakes were then placed into the “Injection Machine” for shaping. The machine heated and liquefied the flakes before pouring them into a customizable mold cavity. As students and parents collaboratively pressed down the lever to apply compacting force, the mold immersed in cooling water, forming the remolded plastic product upon demolding.
After experiencing the entire upcycling process, both the students and parents felt satisfied seeing how a plastic bottle could be transformed into a toy spin or coasters, gaining hands-on experience in upcycling. Certain students reflected that they were more determined to pursue conservation and wish to study science-related subjects in future due to being influenced by the tutors' experiences and expertise.