On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the FabLab association held an educational workshop in collaboration with OŠ Vladimir Deščak. This workshop provided students with an opportunity to learn through practice and fun, with the theme Recycling and New Materials.

Workshop Activities:

• Plastic Recycling: Students were introduced to different types of plastics and the recycling processes. Through a demonstration, they learned how plastic can be reused in various ways, including sorting, shredding, and injecting plastic. Students also had the chance to try these processes themselves, sorting caps, shredding them, and creating their own items by injecting the material.
• New Materials – Bioplastics: The second part of the workshop focused on bioplastics. Students explored different types of bioplastics, their advantages over conventional plastics, and ways they can be applied. Through hands-on work, students cooked bioplastic material and shaped it into different forms, learning how bioplastics can be a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.

The workshop was part of the BIOPLAnet initiative, which focuses on popularizing STEM by raising awareness about the circular economy and sustainability. DIY bioplastics was the main theme of the workshop, aiming to inspire students to think innovatively about sustainable materials and processes that can help preserve the environment.

DiSTT Project – Connecting to the 21st-Century Job Market

This workshop was also aligned with the DiSTT project, which aims to prepare students and employees for the 21st-century job market. The DiSTT project, which started in May 2024, provides educational programs in FabLabs across five European countries (Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Croatia). The project offers six training and retraining programs targeted at high school students, university students, and employees or freelance creators, with the goal of increasing their employability in the job market.

FabLabs, as open workshops, offer students and employees the opportunity to work with computer-controlled production machines such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC milling machines, allowing them to develop products using digital technologies and manufacturing processes.

Conclusion

The workshop on bioplastics and recycling, as well as the DiSTT project, emphasize the importance of new technologies and sustainable practices for future generations. Students gained valuable experiences and knowledge that will assist them in their education and prepare them for the job market, where creativity and technical knowledge of sustainable materials are becoming increasingly important.

We thank OŠ Vladimir Deščak and all participants for sharing this unforgettable experience with us!

For more information about the Green Is My Colour project at OŠ Vladimir Deščak, read here.