Edu-PlastiCycle

[POST-PROGRAM ACTIVITY: TODAY START-UPCYCLING]

"Today Start-Upcycling' is a student-led environmental campaign having an inclusive focus on plastic upcycling technology.

This project is supervised by Hsu, who joined Empowering Youths Across ASEAN: Cohort 4! With the great inspiration of her experiences and knowledge gained from the project site, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, she conducted an online sharing session on plastic upcycling especially, plastic-bracelet making activity to 30 students. Those students have been assigned to implement a similar (bracelet-making) activity and campaign on plastic upcycling knowledge.

The entire on-site project will be conducted by the secondary students from Phaung Daw Oo Monastic High School, Mandalay. Myanmar with the guidance and support from the teachers

[POST-PROGRAM ACTIVITY: ASEAN YOUTH SUSTAINABILITY FORUM 2024]

The ASEAN Youth Sustainability Forum 2024, held on 5th October 2024, was a successful event that brought together youth, experts, and leaders to discuss crucial topics such as balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, youth perspectives on ASEAN's SDGs progress, the role of policy and advocacy in driving environmental change, and the importance of volunteerism in sustainable development. The forum, conducted via Zoom, inspired participants to take action toward creating a greener, more sustainable ASEAN

Some of the notable feedback from participants includes:
"How to keep our country sustainable"
"A lot of new knowledge regarding SDGs"
"The importance of sustainability for our youth and generations to come"
"I love how we can explore several initiatives from various ASEAN regions when it comes to sustainability initiatives"
"We should take part in sustainable initiatives now instead of overthinking it"
Many participants also expressed their appreciation for learning about sustainability in deeper ways, gaining new knowledge, and being inspired by the presentations.

There is also optimism that this event will spark a movement where youth continue to play a key role in balancing economic growth with environmental preservation. Future forums and follow-up activities could focus on expanding these discussions, fostering more innovative solutions, and creating a network of empowered young leaders committed to a sustainable future for ASEAN.

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

🌍💪 Youth Power Against Plastic Waste! 💪🌍

Greetings all youths! 🌟 Did you know that you, as a YOUTH can make a HUGE difference in the fight against plastic pollution?

Here are some ways YOU can help:
1. Make sustainable choices ♻️
2. Be a constant advocator of change 🗣️
3. Educate and Raise Awareness 🙌
4. Engage with like-minded changemakers 🌱

Let’s unite and create a cleaner, greener future! 💪🏻✨

💡Daily bit of green knowledge

By simply shifting to eco-friendly products and lessen plastic usage, you can help in making a green difference. So, whenever having a hard time in choosing what to use, always remember to put a check mark ✅ on that impactful alternatives and cross out those plastics in nature. ❎

💡Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

Do you know that Vietnam has a preschool built entirely of recycled plastics in a mountainous province?

Vietnam ranks 4th out of 20 countries in the top plastic waste discharge in the world with an average of 1.8 million tons of plastic waste each year. Faced with that situation, the country is trying to limit the use of plastic products to reduce plastic waste; at the same time promote research on upcycling plastic waste into construction materials; turn waste into resources.
With that dedication, a kindergarten school made of recycled plastic was put into operation on September 9 in 2022 in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province, sponsored by Hanoi-based Investment and Trade Consulting Company Limited (INTRACO).
Located in Ngai Phong Cho Hamlet in Muong Khuong’s Cao Son Commune, the school is situated on over 1,000 square meters, being capable of serving around 100 students. According to Mr. Le Ngoc Duong - Chairman of People Committee, except for columns, pillars and beams, all partitions, equipment, and tiled roofs at the school are made of recycled plastics. This is a project that carries a profound message about environmental protection.

As the first educational facility made totally of recycled plastics in Vietnam, the school helped reduce emission of 115 tons of this kind of material, spreading a strong call for everybody to join hands in environmental protection. Moreover, this recycled plastic building helps 62 preschool students in Mong ethnic minority in Ngai Phong Cho village have a modern, spacious, clean school and classrooms; with enough supplies, toys, equipment, and facilities for care, nurturing, and education.

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

☘️ Alternative Products to Stop Plastic ☘️

In our daily activities, reducing plastic can be pretty challenging. Yet finding alternatives to common items like plastic packaging and bottles is becoming increasingly easier!🌍

As a brief, let us introduce several alternative products to halt plastic pollution. We are starting with bamboo! The natural weapon that has been used since several decades ago. Bamboo can be turned into some cutleries and utensils, such as spoons, forks, or even bowls.

On the other hand, the trend of using bioplastic is getting popular nowadays. Several natural resources have already changed into bioplastic, supporting the addictive habit of humans into plastic products. Last but not least, paper! Some of us already know that paper can be easily found in books or perhaps for administrative purposes. Surprisingly, several traditional markets use this material for wrapping vegetables and other raw materials.

Are you ready to change your plastic with these products?

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

☘️ Eco-friendly Lifestyle ☘️
Embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle is a powerful way to protect our planet. Every small change, like reducing plastic waste or choosing sustainable products, makes a big difference. Let's make a positive impact together! 🌍

Three Types of Eco-Friendly Lifestyles:

1. Zero Waste Living: This lifestyle focuses on minimizing waste by using reusable items, composting, and recycling. It involves reducing consumption of single-use products and opting for items that can be repurposed or recycled.

2. Sustainable Eating: This approach involves choosing locally-sourced, organic foods and reducing meat consumption to lower your carbon footprint. It supports farmers who use eco-friendly practices and reduces the environmental impact of transporting food over long distances.

3. Green Energy Use: Switching to renewable energy sources, like solar or wind power, helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This lifestyle includes making energy-efficient choices, such as using LED bulbs, and supporting green energy initiatives to lower overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

🔍♻️ Know Your Plastics: Types of Plastic Waste ♻️🔍

Understanding the different types of plastics can help us recycle better and reduce our environmental footprint. Here’s a guide to the seven main types of plastic, their characteristics, and common uses:

1. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Clear, strong, and lightweight.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Water bottles, soft drink bottles.
2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Stiff, strong, resistant to impact and chemicals.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Milk jugs, detergent bottles, juice containers.
3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Durable, resistant to chemicals and weathering.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Pipes, cables, vinyl flooring, some cling films.
4. LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Flexible, transparent, and resilient.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Plastic bags, wraps, squeeze bottles.
5. PP (Polypropylene)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Tough, resistant to heat and chemicals.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Food containers, bottle caps, straws, labels.
6. PS (Polystyrene)
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Lightweight, can be rigid or foam.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes, cutlery, insulation.
7. Other
•⁠ ⁠Characteristics: Varies widely; includes mixed plastics and bioplastics.
•⁠ ⁠Commonly Used: Mixed plastic products, CDs, eyeglass lenses, compostable packaging.

Knowing the different types of plastics helps us make better recycling decisions and supports our efforts to protect the environment.

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

Ever wondered what makes plastics the utmost concern among all waste types? It's because plastics take too long to decompose!

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐕 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚.

Here are some common plastics and the time it takes to degrade:
🛍️ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐚𝐠 - 𝟐𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
🧋𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐩 - 𝟑𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
🥤𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰 - 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
🥤𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐮𝐩 - 𝟒𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
🩲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 - 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
🪥𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 - 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

Now you know, join us in minimizing the usage of plastics and using eco-friendly alternatives instead. Practice proper disposal and upcycle as much as you can! ♻️

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

Check out this fact🤯🤯🤯!!!

How do schools can involve in promoting ‘Environmental Awareness Education’ that prepares to take action?

Let’s visit to Pann Saing ပန်းဆိုင်.😃
An initiative nurtured by the contributions of Phaung Daw Oo Integrated Monastic Education School Students, Myanmar.

A harmonised collaboration between students and the supporters from this philanthropic Monastic School has proved that creating a beautiful world is possible to everyone who has responsible hands.
We Green We Clean We Educate🌏♻️

💡 Daily bit of Green Knowledge:

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Although this is alarming to know, fret not, for it is never too late to take action. Remember, no efforts are too small as every green move counts. We're on this together, ASEAN earth warriors! ♻️

Youths