The workshop was a collaborative effort between three EU projects focused on packaging and plastics: Engage4BIO, Value4Pack and TREASoURcE. Maria Ojanen from the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) set the stage with an introduction to citizen science and the monitoring of plastic waste.
Amplifying research efforts through citizen science
Citizen science is widely used in various fields today, actively contributing to science at large. In environmental monitoring, for instance, it allows for data collection from places and times that would otherwise be unreachable. This way, citizen scientists support and complement official monitoring systems with their observations. Bird watching and personal air quality monitoring are prime examples of the successful interplay between citizen science and official monitoring systems.
Citizen science not only benefits science but also democratises it, allowing anyone to participate in science-making. This can have an important impact on both the quality of data and the speed of research. Several existing online platforms and mobile applications promote the participation of citizens to science-making, sometimes offering monetary rewards.
Innovative approaches to consumer engagement and awareness
The goal of the workshop was to develop concepts to engage consumers and increase awareness about sustainable packaging and sorting. The workshop was realised using the LEGO® Serious Play® method, a creative and kinetic approach to co-creation and ideation. The workshop consisted of three steps, each building on the previous one.
Participants were first introduced to the method and the use of LEGO® blocks through a technical task. They were asked to build a tower using five blocks and applying one new, innovative way of attaching the blocks. Given the workshop’s theme, it was natural that several towers were human-centered, with a human figure as the tower’s base.
The second task was already more complex. Participants built models representing the concept or an element of a solution for consumer engagement in R&D projects and activities. The models reflected several angles to consumer engagement, including motivating people towards sustainable packaging and teaching sustainability to children and students, making the topic understandable.
In the final step, participants developed solutions to engage consumers about plastics and packaging. Solutions varied, with some focusing on making the subject relatable by appealing to emotions, encouraging the target group to consider the positive impact in their lives. Others addressed the challenges of motivating consumers towards sustainable choices and supporting social acceptance through stakeholder engagement. One solution even proposed a zero-waste reality show where participants would be allowed to discard only one mixed waste item per week.
The workshop received positive feedback for fostering discussion, creativity, and actionable ideas, showcasing the LEGO® Serious Play® method as an effective tool for conceptualizing complex concepts and challenges.
*4R is an open innovation ecosystem uniting businesses, researchers, policymakers, and communities to create a waste-free, sustainable future for plastics.
17.3.2025 | Kaisa Simola (CLIC), kaisa.simola@clicinnovation.fi
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