Plastics have become an integral part of modern life, providing many benefits for consumers and producers. But what happens to our waste plastics? Where does it all end up? Is recycling plastics really that effective? In this lesson, students will explore how we use plastics in everyday packaging and how these might be redesigned in such a way as to not become a ‘waste’ problem. Moving beyond methods to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ at the end of life, students will explore ways of designing waste out of the system from the outset. This activity includes Learning intentions: To deepen awareness of the systemic challenges around plastics packaging and how these might be overcome through redesign. Subjects: Design and Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Business Age range: 12+ Total time: 2x 45 minutes (90 minutes total) About the Circular Economy The circular economy is a new way to design, make, and use things within the limits of our planet. In the natural world, materials and nutrients cycle continuously, allowing the Earth’s biosphere to regenerate and for all lifeforms - humans included - to flourish. This insight lies at the heart of the circular economy. Instead of using things for a short time before throwing them away, in a circular economy everything is designed to fit within a cycle so it can be used again and again. The concept is based on three principles, driven by design, and underpinned by a transition to renewable energy: 1 - Eliminate waste and pollution 2 - Keep products and materials in use 3 - Regenerate natural systems Using these principles, we can create a system that restores biodiversity, addresses climate change, and makes the most of our planet’s limited resources. Such a system could work for the economy, society, and environment - making it a truly sustainable model for our future prosperity. About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We work with, and aim to inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.

The Girls Go Circular Project aims to equip girls aged 14-18 across Europe with digital and entrepreneurial skills by 2027 through an online learning programme about the circular economy. The online learning platform developed in the framework of the project – the “Circular Learning Space” – offers students the option of choosing between different learning modules on topics like metals, plastics, sustainable fashion, or electronic devices. These modules are based on a learning-by-doing approach, transferring knowledge and skills through an interactive, challenge-based structure. About the Circular Economy The circular economy is a new way to design, make, and use things within the limits of our planet. In the natural world, materials and nutrients cycle continuously, allowing the Earth’s biosphere to regenerate and for all lifeforms - humans included - to flourish. This insight lies at the heart of the circular economy. Instead of using things for a short time before throwing them away, in a circular economy everything is designed to fit within a cycle so it can be used again and again. The concept is based on three principles, driven by design, and underpinned by a transition to renewable energy: 1 - Eliminate waste and pollution 2 - Keep products and materials in use 3 - Regenerate natural systems Using these principles, we can create a system that restores biodiversity, addresses climate change, and makes the most of our planet’s limited resources. Such a system could work for the economy, society, and environment - making it a truly sustainable model for our future prosperity. About the Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We work with, and aim to inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.

This lesson is part of a 5-part series introducing the circular economy and systems thinking. The circular economy refers to an industrial economy that is restorative by intention. It aims to rely on renewable energy, minimise the use of toxic chemicals, and eradicate waste through careful design. It involves careful management of material and resource flows which is explored in this lesson. This lesson focuses on understanding the challenge ‘finite’ resources. Students will be able to understand the urgent challenge that finite resources pose, explore economic history since the industrial revolution, and critically evaluate our current consumption and production systems. Through this they can explore sustainability and better ways of dealing with resources. Subjects: Economics, Geography, Environmental Systems, Sociology, Business, Citizenship Age range: 12-19 years Total time: 45-70 minutes Learning outcomes: • To understand the urgent challenge that finite resources pose to our current economic system • To explore economic history since the industrial revolution through personal narrative • To critically evaluate our current consumption and production systems and explore better ways of dealing with resources About the Circular Economy The circular economy is a new way to design, make, and use things within the limits of our planet. In the natural world, materials and nutrients cycle continuously, allowing the Earth’s biosphere to regenerate and for all lifeforms - humans included - to flourish. This insight lies at the heart of the circular economy. Instead of using things for a short time before throwing them away, in a circular economy everything is designed to fit within a cycle so it can be used again and again. The concept is based on three principles, driven by design, and underpinned by a transition to renewable energy: 1 - Eliminate waste and pollution 2 - Keep products and materials in use 3 - Regenerate natural systems Using these principles, we can create a system that restores biodiversity, addresses climate change, and makes the most of our planet’s limited resources. Such a system could work for the economy, society, and environment - making it a truly sustainable model for our future prosperity. About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We work with, and aim to inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.

The previous lesson introduced the students to the circular economy. In this activity, students will be asked to design their own product or service fit for a circular economy. The product or service will allow the materials and energy to rejoin a circular flow. This activity includes two learning activities focused on designing a product or a service. It also includes presentations showing case studies to be used as a visual aid. Subjects: Economics, Sociology, Business, Citizenship, Design Technology Age range: 12-19 years Total time: 120 minutes Learning outcomes: • To learn about companies that have adopted the circular economy framework • To design a product or service based on the circular economy About the Circular Economy "The circular economy is a new way to design, make, and use things within the limits of our planet. In the natural world, materials and nutrients cycle continuously, allowing the Earth’s biosphere to regenerate and for all lifeforms - humans included - to flourish. This insight lies at the heart of the circular economy. Instead of using things for a short time before throwing them away, in a circular economy everything is designed to fit within a cycle so it can be used again and again. The concept is based on three principles, driven by design, and underpinned by a transition to renewable energy: 1 - Eliminate waste and pollution 2 - Keep products and materials in use 3 - Regenerate natural systems Using these principles, we can create a system that restores biodiversity, addresses climate change, and makes the most of our planet’s limited resources. Such a system could work for the economy, society, and environment - making it a truly sustainable model for our future prosperity. " About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We work with, and aim to inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.

This learning path explores what artificial intelligence is and how it can be used to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, focusing in particular on the opportunities for AI to: Inform and accelerate efforts to design out waste and pollution. Increase the effectiveness and optimise circular economy business models. Streamline the infrastructure needed to keep products and materials in use. About the Circular Economy The circular economy is a new way to design, make, and use things within the limits of our planet. In the natural world, materials and nutrients cycle continuously, allowing the Earth’s biosphere to regenerate and for all lifeforms - humans included - to flourish. This insight lies at the heart of the circular economy. Instead of using things for a short time before throwing them away, in a circular economy everything is designed to fit within a cycle so it can be used again and again. The concept is based on three principles, driven by design, and underpinned by a transition to renewable energy: 1 - Eliminate waste and pollution 2 - Keep products and materials in use 3 - Regenerate natural systems Using these principles, we can create a system that restores biodiversity, addresses climate change, and makes the most of our planet’s limited resources. Such a system could work for the economy, society, and environment - making it a truly sustainable model for our future prosperity. About the Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We work with, and aim to inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.