New learning pack: What’s old is new

Whether it's plastic packaging, kitchen waste or scrapped mobile phones: What clever ideas are there for what we throw away every day?

There are lots of recycling concepts, but few are in operation on a global level and only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled annually. Part of the problem is that there are so many different types of plastic, some of which cannot be recycled. In addition, the process is often expensive and requires vast amounts of energy and water. So there is a need for other ideas. But what?  

Some experts are calling for the introduction of circular economies to replace our existing economic and production systems. In such scenarios – as in nature where the dead remains of plants gradually become compost – every product, from plastic bottles to cell phones would be made in such a way that they could be broken down into their component parts. All of the raw materials regained in this process could repeatedly be used for the manufacture of new products. 

Others, however, are calling for us to make use of existing trash for things like building homes. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered that certain species of worms can eat plastic. Could that be one solution? 

Multimedia learning pack for children and young people

Learning pack #10 “What’s old is new: Reducing waste with upcycling, recycling and circular economies” includes ideas and solutions around the global waste problem. How can we stop the tide of waste? Why is recycling not a silver bullet? How can individuals generate less trash? On the issue of upcycling, participants have the opportunity to get creative, turning hard-to-recycle drink cartons into invitations or flower pots and plastic bottles into cases with zips and mobiles.  

The learning pack is for children and young people aged between 12 and 16 years. It can be used in school lessons or in other groups. The modules can also be used and explored individually.

The learning pack #10 includes:

• 1 booklet for teachers (for classroom teaching)
• 1 interactive workbook for participants (for distance learning)
• 1 role play game with 7 cards
• 8 films
• 1 article
• 1 feature project

The  learning pack is online available in German and English. 

Global Ideas – the Deutsche Welle learning packs

The teaching material "What’s old is new – Reducing waste with upcycling, recycling and circular economies" is the last of ten learning packs that deal with key issues of climate and environmental protection. The learning packs were created by the Global Ideas team of Deutsche Welle; the project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

Launched in May 2017, the multimedia reportage project aims at getting children and young people interested in climate action and biodiversity. The topics are presented in an understandable way, multimedia-based, target-oriented and exciting.

Here you will find an overview of all ten learning packs.

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