How do children and young people learn about the circular economy using plastics as an example? – Project Loop it!

The volume of plastic products has been rising for decades, yet only around 9.5 % of demand is met from recycled materials and less than 1 % from biogenic raw materials; used plastics are still mostly incinerated. At the same time, early education is lacking: an ARA study shows that only 85 % of young adults separate their waste, and while 58 % of the surveyed stakeholders are familiar with the term circular economy, 62 % see a need for more knowledge on the subject. This is where Loop it! comes in. The project is led by Veronika Reinberg, who is one of ÖGUT's experts for the circular economy. It is aimed at primary and lower secondary schools in Vienna and Lower Austria and runs from May 2026 to April 2028.

How can the circular economy be taught in an age- and gender-appropriate way, using plastics as an example?

The circular economy can only be embedded in society sustainably if children understand from an early age that materials have value. The project's central question is therefore: how can the circular economy be taught using plastics as an example, in an age- and gender-appropriate way, so that teachers can continue it independently and on a lasting basis?

At its core is a train-the-trainer approach: teachers are enabled to carry out practical recycling and learning activities with their classes on their own. Instead of one-off workshops, a modular concept emerges, designed to span a semester and made up of four workshops that build on one another: "Circular Economy & Plastics," "Environment & Consumption," "Material Analysis," and "Circular Economy Made by Yourself," in which students sort plastics, work with a miniature separation plant, and recycle plastics into new products themselves using a mobile injection moulding machine.

Workshops and guidelines

As an ongoing project, Loop it! aims to achieve the following results:

• a tested workshop concept and
• guidelines for independent implementation,
• at least 30 trained educators,
• a gender guideline for STEM projects in schools, and
• cooperation grants for educational institutions.

Project consortium and funding

ÖGUT takes the lead in the project: analysing needs and offerings in the education sector and designing further-training programmes on the circular economy are currently among the core topics of its Resources team. Loop it! is carried out together with the Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences, the bioplastics pioneer NaKu, and the recycling company Metran. The participating partner schools are BRG6 Marchettigasse, GRG Franklinstraße 21, GTVS Alte Donau, OVS Konstanziagasse, and Volksschule Bisamberg. The project is carried out within the FFG programme Talente regional and funded by BMIMI.

This project is carried out by ÖGUT (Austrian Society for Environment and Technology). ÖGUT is an independent non-profit organisation that has been committed to a sustainable orientation of the economy and society since 1985. As a platform, it connects more than 130 member organisations and is active in six thematic areas: energy, innovative building, resources & consumption, gender & diversity, participation, and sustainable finance. Its services range from strategy development and expert consulting to research, facilitation, and process support.