John Keells Group’s ‘Bin-novate 2022’ ends successfully

Plasticcycle, the social entrepreneurship project of the John Keells Group, launched ‘Bin-novate 2022; in April this year, to commemorate the World Creativity and Innovation Day. 

The concept of the competition was to encourage the public, to submit design ideas for a bin to be placed in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka to collect recyclable plastic waste.

The competition was held under 3 age categories, including an 8–13-year category to encourage creativity and innovation from a young age, whilst also acting as a reminder of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution. 

The design criteria included that the bin be made from a sustainable material that can withstand beach conditions and additional points were awarded to any designs that included upcycled or recycled materials. In addition to the cash prizes, the winners will also receive due credit should the design be used by Plasticcycle to produce bins.

The designs were evaluated by idea therapist Lee Bazalgette, chartered architect Ruchira Wickramasinghe and Nisreen Rehmanjee. The winners, Aththiligoda Gamage Pumidu Kalhan (8-13 years | category), Saveen Uvishka Serasinghe (14-19 years | category) and Nabila Nushin Imtiaz (20 years and above category) were presented their prizes on 31st of July 2022.