Empowering young minds with collaborative green skills ‘hackathon’ for a sustainable future

UWE’s Entrepreneurship Team approached SUEZ with a unique challenge: a three-day green skills ‘Hackathon’ focused on fostering innovative solutions for hard-to-recycle materials like carpets, linoleum and large furniture. With SUEZ’s support, this real-world challenge provided students with valuable insights into the circular economy, sustainability practices and practical business applications.

This partnership aligned perfectly with UWE’s 10 anniversary of its Business Team Entrepreneurship programme and SUEZ’s commitment to community development through social value initiatives. Both organisations share a strong commitment to the triple bottom line – balancing people, planet and profit – and this project served as a testament to that shared vision.

SUEZ presented a real-world mission to seven student teams: to research and come up with innovative ideas to repurpose challenging materials like carpets, lino flooring, desks and large furniture. These tough-to-recycle materials often end up in landfills, posing a significant environmental burden.

To gain practical insights, students had the opportunity to connect with business leaders in the industry. They learned about existing recycling initiatives in the UK and globally, giving them a deeper understanding of the real-world application of their ideas.

Following their research, each team showcased compelling video pitches outlining their proposed solutions. The top three teams were shortlisted by Team Entrepreneurship coaches and SUEZ representatives. These finalists received invaluable mentorship from SUEZ, connecting them with specialist recycling companies to further refine their plans and turn their ideas into reality. The top three winners then presented their polished proposals to their peers.

The student teams emerged as champions of innovation, unleashing so much creativity and passion. Through proper guidance and encouragement, they developed a diverse range of innovative solutions in recycling and repurposing materials. Ideas included removing plastics and nylon from carpets and transforming them into car footwell mats, along with upcycling furniture, like turning old desks into blackboards.

The project was not just about competition; it was about nurturing a passion for sustainability and equipping them with practical business skills. It showcased the power of experiential learning in the circular economy and highlighted the value of collaborative problem-solving in addressing environmental challenges. SUEZ expressed immense pride in the young entrepreneurs’ creative ideas and quick progress of their journey from research to confident presentations. As a bonus, SUEZ offered to work with all participating teams to help them make their research a reality.

This collaboration between UWE and SUEZ is a powerful demonstration of the value of partnerships. By combining UWE’s educational expertise with SUEZ’s industry knowledge, they are not only inspiring young minds but also paving the way for a more sustainable future.