Students' plastic-free mission, Parkmore Primary School 

A trio of dedicated Year 4 students from Parkmore Primary School in Whitehorse have shown a spirit of innovation and environmental responsibility - and become instigators of change - with their brilliant school project.

Emily, Jake and Seb formed the project group Soft Plastics Environmental Earth Defense (SPEED) as their focus for their Future Problem-Solving subject. Their journey began while researching and uncovering the extent to which soft plastics negatively impacts our environment, biodiversity, wildlife and humanity. 

A Concern Transformed into Action 

The SPEED approach was to engage with their classmates, teachers and parents, particularly with how much soft plastic waste they were using. They presented at school assemblies, showcasing their findings from tracking the type and level of plastics used across the school.

From this, they created a school-wide challenge, the Wrapper Free October competition. They asked students to sign up and pledge their support with the aim of being a soft plastic and wrapper free school.  

Promoting Sustainable Choices 

A pivotal aspect of their approach involved equipping families with the knowledge and tools to make sustainable choices. SPEED designed informative brochures detailing ways to create wrapper-free lunchboxes. These brochures not only contained practical advice but also recipes and helpful tips to avoid the purchase of single use plastics.  

With the help of the brochures and the competition, since SPEED started their work, the amount of soft plastics in students' lunchboxes across the school has reduced by an estimated 90 per cent!

Pioneering Collaborative Solution

SPEED's commitment to action got the attention of experts at the forefront of plastic solutions.

They connected with Sydney University's Professor Ali Abbas, who specialises in the development of plastic-eating fungi that works like a composter. This involves using wax worms and their unique ability to break down plastic, and the work made headlines across the country.  

Professor Abbas and SPEED have formed a great relationship and met in person late last year. They are staying in touch with Professor Abbas for the latest updates on his work.

The trio were also the youngest team entry at this year's Future Problem Solving Australia Program, and the only State School entry from Victoria. They travelled to Brisbane for the national finals and won a silver medal by finishing second in the Community Problem Solving Awards - a fantastic achievement!

A Roadmap for the Future 

SPEED's story resonates hope and anyone - of any age - can be change makers. Join Parkmore Primary School and take the pledge of being a wrapper-free school, family or workplace!

For more information and tips from the SPEED team, email them at speedsoftplastics@gmail.com.  

You can also take a look at their stories which were featured in Whitehorse News in October and December 2023.