Waste = food Lesson four: Paper making Learning objectives: To understand how paper is recycled To understand upcycling To upcycle some waste paper To learn how to make bioplastics

Upcycling Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. The first recorded use of the term upcycling was by Reiner Pilz in 1994: “Recycling,” he said, “I call it downcycling. They smash bricks, they smash everything. What we need is upcycling where old products are given more value not less.”

Making bioplastic from cornflour 1. Place a tablespoon of cornflour in a plastic ziplock sandwich bag. 2. Add two drops of corn oil and a tablespoon of water to the bag. Mix by rubbing the bag with your fingers. 3. Add a drop of food colouring. Don’t completely shut the bag – this will allow the steam to escape. 4. Place the bag in the microwave oven and heat on high for seconds. 5. Allow to cool then mould into a ball. 6. Cut into shape with a pastry cutter.

Where are bioplastics used?

Upcycling paper – Part 1 1. Rip up used paper into small pieces and place with water in an old liquidiser. 2. Tip the paper pulp into a washing up bowl and add more water.

Upcycling paper – Part 1 3. Prepare a wooden frame covered in a kitchen cloth and an acrylic decal. 4. Lay the decal on top of the frame, holding both together submerge into the washing up bowl. Lift up gently and tip the frame so that the water drains off into one corner.

Upcycling paper – Part 2 5. After draining, remove the decal and turn the frame upside down onto more kitchen cloth with newspaper underneath to absorb the water. 6. Using a sponge or absorbent cloth dab through the frame to remove the excess water and compress the paper fibres.

Upcycling paper – Part 2 7. Gently lift off the frame, easing the paper away from the frame. 8. Sprinkle with wild flower or green manure seeds and press into the surface.

Case study: Paper bottles Martin Myerscough is Technology Director at the company Greenbottle. After talking to the manager of his local tip, who told him that plastic bottles were the biggest problem he had to deal with, Martin designed and created a milk container that can be crushed flat and that decomposes.

Case study: Paper bottles Greenbottle is now reinventing the wine bottle. Each paper bottle contains the same type of bag found in boxed wine so that the wine is kept fresh. Each bottle weighs just 55g, while an average 750ml glass wine bottle weighs about 400g, which also slashes transport costs.

Paper resources ‘Pulpitations – paper in the making’ is a website that explores the creative uses of paper. htm

Further investigation and discussion Investigation: Leave a sample of both bioplastic and recycled paper outside. - How long did they take to dissolve/disappear? - What conditions accelerate the decomposition? Discussion: What are the pros and cons of using bioplastic instead of oil derived polymers? Will putting bioplastics into the recycling system weaken polymers?

Further investigation and discussion Watch the Nike video: