DropCycle Plastic Atelier

"DropCycle Plastic Atelier" was born from a desire to take concrete action in response to the issue of plastic waste. During an informal exchange, João Teixeira and Vasco Melo expressed the need to engage in a project with direct impact, rooted in everyday realities. Their ambition was not only to raise awareness, but to make environmental issues visible, understandable and accessible.

The turning point came when João mentioned the Precious Plastic movement, an open source network that provides machines and expertise to recycle plastic locally and transform it into objects. The two founders quickly realised that no similar initiative yet existed in Luxembourg.

We realized there is a real gap, and therefore an opportunity to act.

Vasco Melo DropCycle Plastic Atelier Luxembourg

The project then developed around a clear objective: to make recycling tangible and visible by bringing a process that usually remains hidden within industrial systems into the public sphere. DropCycle operates directly in the field, in schools, companies and public events, using machines capable of transforming locally collected plastic waste into objects produced on site.

The process is deliberately simple and transparent. Participants follow each step, from sorting to production, and can leave with an object they helped create.

Seeing the transformation happen changes perceptions completely.

Vasco Melo DropCycle Plastic Atelier Luxembourg

Through its workshops, DropCycle operates on multiple levels. The project helps deepen understanding of plastic related issues while promoting making and experimentation. It also shifts perspectives on waste, repositioning it as a potential resource rather than an end point.

The project’s development has not been without challenges, particularly in finding a permanent space to host activities on a regular basis. In response, the team chose to prioritize a mobile format, allowing them to adapt to different contexts and reach diverse audiences across the country.

Some initiatives illustrate this approach particularly well. During an installation in the city centre in the run up to Christmas, passers by were invited to create objects from recycled plastic, transforming a moment of consumption into a participatory experience of creation and reflection.

After its first year of activity, DropCycle continues to expand, with the ambition of eventually creating a dedicated space, open to all, where recycling could be explored independently and on a regular basis. Through this initiative, the aim is twofold: to encourage reflection on consumption habits and to demonstrate, in a tangible way, that everyone can contribute to a more responsible use of resources.