The Compost Collective was established during the vibrant UAL Creative Hackathon, where innovative minds came together to address various social and environmental challenges.
Our team united to discuss pressing issues such as inefficient food waste management, community disengagement, and the underutilisation of university spaces.
As winners of the UAL Creative Hackathon 2024, our team spent three intense days addressing issues such as improper food waste disposal, loneliness, and underutilised spaces. Through collaboration and creativity, we developed innovative solutions to promote sustainability and community engagement.
While initially focusing on UAL, we also considered how to create a system that would be applicable to other schools, universities, and businesses. Our research at UAL revealed disorganised, unincentivised, and inaccessible food waste management in UAL accommodations.
According to Business Waste, 97% of people in the UK do not compost, and 60% avoid it due to a lack of time or motivation.
We identified that the current perception of composting is a problem, so we are working on rebranding it to make it easy and enjoyable. Through events, a bold new identity, and gamification, we aim to cultivate a compost culture, starting with UAL students.
Our proposal included a systems-based approach and an innovative compost bin designed for utility and to appeal to and engage users. Our presentation at the hackathon demonstrated our dedication to environmental sustainability and community building.
Our proposal aligns with the 5 SDGs, the Mayor of London’s goals, and UAL’s objectives regarding greening cities, achieving net zero, and reducing transport emissions.
By integrating functionality with fun, our compost bin embodies our vision: to create vibrant, sustainable communities through simple, effective solutions. We are enthusiastic about composting our way into the future, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.
We are excited to move forward with our initiative using the UAL Creative Hackathon Prize Money and can’t wait to see where this journey takes us. Stay tuned for more updates.
Share: