[Field Sketch] Giving New Life to Plastic: Hope in a Recycled Flowerpot – 2025 Earth Day, Seoul City Event at Yeouido Park > 게시글

 

April 22nd, Sunday – A Spring Day for the Earth at Yeouido Park

 

Hello from Climatus College!
On Sunday, April 22nd, we celebrated Earth Day 2025 at Yeouido Park — a warm spring day filled with sunshine, fresh breeze, and vibrant energy.

Climatus College proudly took part in this special event hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Citizens, university students, and environmental organizations gathered at the “Cultural Plaza” of Yeouido Park, setting up booths that showcased creative ideas and actions for our planet.

Our booth, titled “Making Flowerpots from Recycled Plastic Bags,” wasn’t just an interactive activity — it was a meaningful moment that asked one big question:
How should we live on this Earth, together?

In the following sketch, we invite you to relive the sights, sounds, and spirit of the day.

 

 

Did You Know?

According to Korea’s Ministry of Environment:

- Over 52% of the plastic waste in standard trash bags is actually recyclable plastic film and vinyl.

- In Seoul alone, 730 tons of plastic film waste are generated daily.

- Of that, over 402 tons (55%) are incinerated or landfilled — simply because they’re improperly discarded.

Many people still don’t realize that plastic bags can be recycled. It’s no wonder they’re tossed into general trash bins at homes and businesses, ending up as yet another environmental burden.

To highlight the value of recycling, Climatus College designed a hands-on program where citizens created flowerpots from recycled plastic film.

 

 

1. Waste or Resource? – The Second Life of Plastic

 

 

The sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, and the park was filled with weekend visitors.
Colorful booths lined the paths, and before long, a queue formed in front of ours.

“Mom, what’s that? Can we try it?”
“Wait, they made flowerpots from plastic bags? That’s amazing!”

 

 

Our program invited citizens to plant real greenery in flowerpots made from recycled vinyl waste. Holding a pot once destined for a landfill, participants experienced the thin line between “waste” and “resource.”

Families and children were especially engaged. It wasn’t just educational — it was tactile, creative, and memorable. By touching, making, and taking something home, their understanding of recycling naturally deepened.

 

 

 

2. From “Learning About” Sustainability to “Building It”

 

 

This wasn’t a passive lecture about climate change. It was active learning through participation.

While Seoul’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is commendable, policy alone isn’t enough. What we need is public engagement, and that begins with experiences like this — tangible, sensory, and joyful.

From hearing the story of how waste is recycled, to touching the pots, planting greenery, and naming each plant —
this process turned an abstract idea like “climate crisis” into something personal and real.

It was this experience-based approach that enabled citizens to smile and have fun, while absorbing a deeper environmental message.

 

3. Fighting Climate Change Isn’t So Hard – Small Acts Make Big Impact

 

 

That day, one small flowerpot created in the corner of Yeouido Park was more than a souvenir.
It was proof that what we throw away can be reborn — to hold life, to inspire thought, and to sow the seeds of hope.

Climate change often feels massive and overwhelming. But its solution starts with tiny, everyday choices.
A plastic wrapper in your hand, a moment of hesitation at the trash bin — it all comes down to a simple question:
“What will I choose to do?”

On Earth Day, we planted our answer in the form of flowerpots.
And now, each one has gone home to a balcony, a desk, or a kitchen windowsill —
quietly and slowly sprouting the idea of a more sustainable lifestyle.

 

Climatus College Will Keep Going

 

At Climatus College, we believe that environmental transformation begins in everyday life

— with hands-on action, shared experiences, and small things that grow over time.

 

We’ll continue to engage citizens in activities that

- promote circular economy practices,

- offer experiential environmental education, and

- connect daily life to climate solutions.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a plastic bag… and a little imagination.