Ricoh Ireland gives ReCreate treasure trove of junk

Life

Pictured: Gary Hopwood, Ricoh Ireland (top) and Dara Connolly, ReCreate

Ricoh Ireland is marking its Global Eco Action Month by announcing a new partnership with social enterprise ReCreate to divert excess and end-of-line stock for reuse as art materials.

ReCreate diverts end of line and surplus stock from businesses in Ireland and reuses them as arts materials at its Creative Resource Centre in Ballymount, Dublin. Its mission is to increase creativity, curiousity and lateral thinking, while raising awareness of sustainability and reuse.

Since opening its doors in November 2013, more than 15,000 children, parents and teachers have participated in art projects using materials from ReCreate, either at their schools, youth centres or onsite in ReCreate’s Creative Resource Centre – called the Warehouse of Wonders. In its first year, ReCreate estimates that it will save 150 tonnes of material from being thrown into landfill by Irish businesses.

Ricoh will supply with ReCreate with cardboard, paper, posters, cylinders, spools, fabrics, mounting board as well as surplus materials from its production print facility in Park West, Dublin.

In addition, Ricoh will be donating one of its Eco-line multi-functional printers to take on the production and printing of ReCreate promotional and educational material.

Gary Hopwood, general manager, Ricoh Ireland, said: “We have been hugely impressed by ReCreate’s passion and ability to make such a positive creative impact on school children in Ireland. At Ricoh, we also have a zero waste to landfill policy so this perfectly complements our requirements.”

Dara Connolly, executive director, ReCreate, said: “Our mission is to not only further the educational experience and imaginations of children but also to promote environmental awareness and the reuse of materials. Ricoh is a fantastic partner for us because they share our beliefs about the environment and about education.

“We’re committed to growing ReCreate significantly in the coming years by expanding our membership to pre-schools, schools and all kinds of community groups and individuals. We aim to influence everybody from pre-schoolers to university students and everybody in between to engage in creative re-use. We hope that more forward thinking organisations like Ricoh will join us on our exciting mission.”

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: arts Education ReCreate Ricoh