Circular plastic, a project running among 3 East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda seeks to discover solutions to plastic waste. Speaking at an output workshop of the project themed; Turning plastic bottles into new products for Low-Middle income countries, Dr. Timothy Whitehead, a senior Lecturer in Industrial design at Aston University United Kingdom observed that recycling plastic into new products through 3 D printing innovation could be herald for creating solution to plastic waste and in return facilitate entrepreneurship and employment.
Circular plastic, a project running among 3 East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda seeks to discover solutions to plastic waste. Speaking at an output workshop of the project themed; Turning plastic bottles into new products for Low-Middle income countries, Dr. Timothy Whitehead, a senior Lecturer in Industrial design at Aston University United Kingdom observed that recycling plastic into new products through 3 D printing innovation could be herald for creating solution to plastic waste and in return facilitate entrepreneurship and employment.
Momentous innovations from the project including customized machete cassava peeler that minimizes waste and has a safety attachment for users, non electric cooler for milk preservation and fruit picker can be replicated among the low middle income consumers according to Dr. Whitehead.
The Circular Plastic process involves sourcing, washing, shredding and extruding- shaping the plastic material by forcing it through ‘die’ to create raw material for re-use. The project collaborates with cafes where relatively clean pet bottles are collected before being washed, shredded and extruded into ground glaze material thus adopting a circular mode.
The re-use of these waste plastics was seen as a sustainable way that also minimize use of other materials.
Workshop participants among them students were also engaged in brainstorming future projects where circular innovation would be applicable.
The event was held on 10th November and graced by Prof. Rukwaro dean, faculty Built Environment and Design and Prof. Lilac Osanjo chairman department of Art and Design, faculty staff and other design stakeholders.
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