“Turning old into new”, Connected, level 4, January 2018
10 January 2018
This article discusses how everyday objects and materials such as chewing gum and drink bottles can be broken down and made into something new.
You can find the article and the teaching notes here: “Turning old into new”, Connected, level 4, November 2017
Other useful resources
British designer turns sticky chewing gum waste into recycled products
This designer has installed bins at locations in the UK to collect waste chewing gum.
- Should we burn or bury waste plastic?
- Interview: James Dyson on using his famous vacuum technology to suck garbage from rivers
Recent news items on the theme of "End of life disposal of technological products and systems creates a huge challenge for our planet".
A New Zealand company that makes shoes out of merino wool. They recycle plastic bottles for the laces, and recycle cardboard for the packaging.
A type of shoe also made from felted New Zealand wool.
The firms being creative with food destined for the bin
A Danish food company has created an app to buy unsold food items from restaurants hence reducing food waste.
Discussion questions
These could include:
- How have the chewing gum and drink bottles been manipulated (for example: cutting, molding, bending, jointing, gluing, painting) to create the new fibre for clothing.
- How did the students at Kavanagh College manipulate the waste from the brewery into pots? How did this contribute to the fitness for purpose of the malt originally used in the brewery?
- How is the recycled chewing gum formulated into a new material?
- How does the formulation of the chewing gum into a new material contribute to the fitness for purpose of the chewing gum?
- How is the wool transformed in shoes to contribute to its fit for purpose?
Progress outcomes for discussion starters
| Component | Indicator | Level |
| Technological products |
| 4 |