A waste problem turned into educational opportunities

As part of its existing long-term partnership with UNICEF, since the beginning of the year Gardena is supporting a UNICEF project in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) to recycle plastic waste into building materials for new schools. This innovative project contributes to the environment and at the same time opens up educational and development opportunities for disadvantaged children.

Gardena watering products and hand-held devices from the GARDENA EcoLine also represent an important milestone for the brand, because they are made from more than 65 percent recycled materials and still impress with their uncompromising quality, durability, attractive design and maximum ease of use.

The proportion of recycled plastics is particularly important here. This consists to a large extent of so-called post-consumer material, i.e. all the plastic packaging and films that are disposed of by households. They can be turned into plastic granulate for new products. The respective shares are shown transparently for each product.

Promotion of the circular economy

While there are already established systems for the collection and recycling of plastics in many countries, the situation in others is completely different. In many places, especially in the countries of West Africa, there is a lack of adequate infrastructure for waste disposal, which can no longer keep up with the increasing consumer behavior of the population. And so, the packaging waste often ends up in the landscape.

The UNICEF project in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) is now tackling this problem in a creative way with a solution that not only helps to remove the rubbish, but at the same time puts the collected material to a very special use.

Together with its partner Conceptos Plasticos from Colombia, UNICEF has developed a recycling plant there that converts collected plastic waste into building materials. These, in turn, will be used to build new modular schools. The Ivory Coast also lacks school buildings. And so new educational opportunities for the next generation arise from a waste problem.

The promotion of the circular economy is one of the main goals of the sustainability program “Sustainovate” by Gardena and its parent company, the Husqvarna Group. Furthermore, Gardena supports the UNICEF programs for water, sanitation and hygiene supply worldwide true to the motto: “Every drop counts”.

Together with its partner Conceptos Plasticos from Colombia, UNICEF has developed a recycling plant there that converts collected plastic waste into building materials. These, in turn, will be used to build new modular schools. The Ivory Coast also lacks school buildings. And so new educational opportunities for the next generation arise from a waste problem.

The promotion of the circular economy is one of the main goals of the sustainability program “Sustainovate” by Gardena and its parent company, the Husqvarna Group. Furthermore, Gardena supports the UNICEF programs for water, sanitation and hygiene supply worldwide true to the motto: “Every drop counts”.