Product ideas: water bottles, pens, pins

Properties
Aluminum, once manufactured, serves as a perpetual resource for recycling, ideally into similar items. Its high recyclability stems from several factors:

- It withstands corrosion in most environments, ensuring its enduring metal value post-use.
- Remelting aluminum consumes only 5% of the energy required for initial production.
- Aluminum's versatility in alloying has led to numerous commercial compositions, many tailored to accommodate impurities.

Recycling aluminum is sustainable because of its properties, making it an excellent material for eco-friendly products. Additionally, aluminum is a low-density and strong material. We can use aluminum to create water bottles that are lightweight and durable, making them perfect for pupils to carry around.

Product ideas: boxes
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Information
It is composed of mushroom roots, used as a matrix, and rice husk and wheat grain, as reinforcement. It is biodegradable and low-cost, making it suitable for use in boxes for carrying items.

Regardless of the material's quality, substrates undergo initial hydration, crucial for fungal growth. Soaking duration varies depending on the substrate; for instance, rice hulls require less time compared to wheat grains. Once hydrated, the raw material is homogenized to expand the growth surface using mechanical processes like grinding or blending.Subsequently, the macerated material is sterilized to eliminate microbial competition, with methods such as oven heating or pressure cooking. Chemicals like hydrogen peroxide can also sterilize, though less effectively. Composite assembly utilizes natural fungal growth to bind lignocellulosic material into 3D structures resembling the mold. Spores are preferred for their even dispersion but require nutrient-rich substrates initially. Following inoculation, molds undergo growth under controlled conditions, typically for days to months.

Post-growth, composites are removed from molds and dehydrated through hot-pressing or oven drying to halt fungal growth and enhance material stiffness. These processes result in fully biodegradable composite materials, comprising primarily lignocellulosic material bound with fungal mycelium.

Product idea: chairs, desks

Information
Wood is a renewable and biodegradable resource that can also be recycled under certain conditions. It is a flexible and soft material that can easily be modified to fit various needs.

Technological advancements have led to methods addressing wood's weaknesses, such as decay and fire resistance. Various coatings and chemical treatments can strengthen wood but may reduce its recyclability.

Less treated wood can still be used for upcycling and recycling, while heavily treated wood is more likely to be disposed of.

It's important to note that despite being commonly categorized as a material, wood does not fit the strict definition of a material in materials science. Materials are expected to have uniform, consistent, predictable, and reproducible properties, which is not always the case for wood. Its structural and chemical properties can vary significantly not only across different wood species but even within the same species, extending to individual trees.

Product idea: food containers

Information
Glass is classified as a permanent material because it can be endlessly recycled without any degradation of its properties. This characteristic places glass in a special position within the circular economy. For instance, recycling glass serves two main purposes: reducing landfill waste and decreasing the carbon footprint of cement when used in its composition.

Recycled glass can be utilized for a wide range of products, including food containers. Its low chemical reactivity renders glass chemically inert, making it ideal for laboratory equipment and safe, non-hazardous materials used for food storage. Pupils can use glass containers to pack their home lunches.

Product ideas: toadbags, school uniforms

Information
Hemp has gained popularity in the industry due to its carbon-sequestering property, higher biomass production, and versatility in end-use products.

When combined with cotton, it creates a fabric that offers superior performance in moisture absorption, air permeability, anti-mold and antibacterial properties, UV protection, and antistatic properties. A higher percentage of hemp in the fabric enhances air permeability but can also increase susceptibility to tearing. Additionally, hemp possesses antibacterial properties effective against many pathogenic bacteria.

Fabrics made from hemp can be used to create tote bags for carrying books and materials used by pupils.

Product ideas: folders, notebooks, magazines, stickers, study guides,desk organizers, flash card sets etc.

Information
The recycling of waste paper into cardboard and paper is both economically and environmentally beneficial, as it reduces the need for wood. Waste paper varies in cleanliness, ranging from relatively clean to heavily contaminated with impurities. Approximately 80% of collected waste paper can be recycled, while the remaining 20% contains challenging materials such as wire, staples, plastics, and adhesives.

The recycling process involves several steps, including the removal of paints and inks, cleaning, fine sifting, washing, and thickening of the fibrous material. Control and monitoring of the material properties throughout the process are crucial to ensure satisfactory quality in the final paper and cardboard products.