The Challenge
In Conde, Bahia, an important coconut-growing region, a local school had limited access to durable furniture, while recyclable materials like used beverage cartons were often discarded without being reused.
Our Approach
Through the Escolas do Futuro (Future Schools) project, the Vita Coco Community Foundation and partners set out to demonstrate the potential of recycling within the community.
First, partners developed prototype school furniture to demonstrate how durable furniture can be made from used beverage cartons. This pilot initiative in 2024 then combined education and innovation to engage students and teachers in a three-month long school-wide competition to collect used beverage cartons and demonstrate the importance of recycling. The equivalent of the collected cartons were then transformed into durable school furniture, demonstrating both the environmental and practical value of recycling.
The Results
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10,500+
beverage cartons (=309.3 KG) collected from the school collection competition and sent for recycling
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80+
pieces of furniture (=496,000 beverage cartoons upcycled) donated to the school including desks, chairs, and bookshelves
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250+
students and 35+ teachers became recycling advocates, multiplying the program's impact throughout their families and community
