What is the Plastic Workshop All About?
The Plastic Workshop is a vibrant hub where creativity meets precision to breathe new life into used plastic. This innovative activity revolves around revaluing plastic waste through a hands-on process: collection, sorting, washing, shredding, and finally melting. The goal? To craft unique, one-of-a-kind objects that tell a story of transformation and sustainability. The team mainly works with three types of plastic that, interestingly, don’t have a recycling stream in Switzerland. Ever noticed those little logos on your plastic items? Yep, those are the ones!
Main Benefits of the Plastic Workshop
This project isn’t just about making cool stuff—it’s about making a difference. Here are some key facts and figures that highlight its impact:
- Uses a process developed by Precious Plastic, an international community dedicated to fighting plastic waste.
- Focuses on plastics without existing recycling streams in Switzerland, filling a crucial gap.
- Transforms domestic and nature-collected plastic into new, usable objects.
- Operates with a set of machines including a grinder, extruder, injector, and oven.
- Encourages a circular economy around Lake Geneva, involving the local community in sustainability efforts.
The Precious Plastic Connection
The machines and process behind the Plastic Workshop come from Precious Plastic, a global community passionate about freeing the world from plastic waste. This connection means the workshop isn’t working in isolation—it’s part of a bigger movement. The Precious Plastic Leman laboratory, focusing on Lake Geneva and its surroundings, uses a playful and concrete approach to raise awareness. It’s all about turning plastic trash into treasure, and everyone can join in, on their own scale.
Community Engagement and Local Action
Beyond the machines and objects, the project thrives on community involvement. Actions on the ground include beach clean-ups and participation in various events, making sustainability a shared experience. The workshop also supports companies and builds a community on social networks, spreading the word and inspiring action. Locally harvested plastic is turned into objects, and machine kits are made for institutions, eco-neighborhoods, and resourceries that want to get involved. It’s a hands-on, grassroots approach to tackling a global problem.
Global Impact and Support
The Plastic Workshop doesn’t stop at local borders. Since 2016, it has contributed to the Precious Plastic community by supporting new workshops with advice and expertise. It even participates in global clean-up efforts by manufacturing fully equipped maritime containers for North-South projects. This global-local blend ensures that the fight against plastic waste is both widespread and deeply rooted in local action.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – promoting recycling and circular economy.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – reducing plastic waste and its environmental footprint.
- SDG 14: Life Below Water – protecting aquatic ecosystems by reducing plastic pollution.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – collaborating with international communities like Precious Plastic.
Stay Connected and Informed
Want to keep up with the latest? The Plastic Workshop shares updates like the Annual Report 2024, now available online for a good read. Big milestones, such as the laying of the first stone for a new EMS in Chernex, show the foundation’s commitment to seniors and the community. Plus, there’s always something happening—mark your calendar for events like the Brico-Noël Day, Christmas sales, and festive parties. For direct contact, the workshops can be reached via email at ateliers@eben-hezer.ch. It’s all about staying engaged and making sustainability a part of everyday life.
