We Won’t Waste You, Design for Social Inclusion Project Based Learning methodology to connect the students to the society and the environment through innovation

The global impact on the planet of solid waste generation has been rising rapidly every year. According to the World Bank, 3.5 million tons of solid waste were produced globally per day in 2013, and by 2025 this number could reach 6 million. In Portugal alone, 13,616 tons of solid waste were produced per day in 2012, and this number should reach 15,886 by 2025. This scenario presented itself as a great learning opportunity to design professionals who have the responsibility to outline a new way of thinking about product creation activity. The challenge was presented to a group of design students by applying the Project Based Learning methodology in connection with the society and the environment through innovation, resulting in products created from discarded materials as eggshells, seaweed, sugar, plastic bottles, ropes and fishing nets. This paper presents the context and manufacturing stages of these products developed in collaboration with the City Council of Matosinhos.