Repurposed Materials Take Centre Stage at Warwick’s Sustainable Crafternoon

Students at the University of Warwick proved that sustainability can be hands-on, creative, and genuinely fun during a recent Festive Crafternoon held in the Nook. Led by Evelin Sanderson-Nichols and Yurong Tian from the Energy and Sustainability Team, the session invited students to explore the principles of the circular economy through practical making — with repurposed materials taking centre stage.

The workshop encouraged participants to rethink waste by transforming leftover cardboard, paper and other recovered materials into Christmas decorations. The results included reindeer antlers, miniature trees, ornaments, paper chains and a variety of imaginative creations that demonstrated just how far creativity can go when paired with circular thinking.

This term, the team has placed a strong emphasis on hands-on engagement to help embed sustainability into everyday campus life. The Crafternoon served as a practical example of how repurposing materials not only reduces waste but also creates opportunities for community-building, skill-sharing and meaningful conversations about resource use.

Materials used at the session were sourced entirely from reuse streams, including cardboard donated by Warwick Conferences, glue guns from Warwick Institute of Engagement and a range of items collected during last year’s Donation Drive.

Workshops like this highlight the university’s growing focus on circular economy principles and demonstrate how simple, playful activities can spark deeper understanding of sustainable practices. With more hands-on sessions planned for next term, students can look forward to continuing to experiment, collaborate and create with purpose.