Sheffield design students look at ways Tramlines festival could be more eco-friendly

A group of Sheffield designs students have been looking at ways to make Tramlines festival more sustainable and eco-friendly as part of their work around climate change.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Design and Technology Department at King Ecgbert School, in Dore, held the enrichment afternoon for Year 9 students to look at sustainability and how large events can have more of a positive impact against climate change.

Focusing on Sheffield's biggest city-based music festival, Tramlines, the group looked at four areas of design that could help make the annual event, and those who attend it, more eco-friendly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This included customising a T-shirt to create a festival outfit without having to buy something new which can often contribute to the environmental issues caused by ‘fast fashion'.

Ben Versi and Alfie Burgin work on a shelter  at a Design and Sustainability event at King Ecgbert SchoolBen Versi and Alfie Burgin work on a shelter  at a Design and Sustainability event at King Ecgbert School
Ben Versi and Alfie Burgin work on a shelter at a Design and Sustainability event at King Ecgbert School
Read More
Pupils raise money for new ‘kiddie-shaped’ signs to help improve parking outside...

Subject Leader for Design and Technology (DT), Helen Vardy, said: “As a DT department, we have been making students more aware of the role of design in tackling climate change. In Year 7 we have been designing water bottles and cups to encourage students away from single-use items.”

Other aspects of the afternoon included looking at street food and how to make meat and meatless tacos using ingredients produced near to the city to reduce both food miles and the amount of meat in our diets.

They also made chairs from recycled cardboard to prevent the waste created by those who abandon items at the end of festivals and designed tents and stages that use renewable and recycled materials with the support of a structural engineer, Kirsten Baggaley from Arup.

Welsh rockers The Manic Street Preachers play the Main Stage at Tramlines Festival in 2019Welsh rockers The Manic Street Preachers play the Main Stage at Tramlines Festival in 2019
Welsh rockers The Manic Street Preachers play the Main Stage at Tramlines Festival in 2019
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Miss Vardy added: “Year 10’s have been making cutlery that they can take around with them instead of using plastic spoons and forks. We also consider the life-cycle of the materials that we use and have begun recycling plastic bottles to make new products. It's the start of exciting changes that will make our students more aware of the positive steps they can make.”

It comes after a number of KES students participated in the Youth Strike 4 Climate last year, to demand the government declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem, communicate the severity of the ecological crisis and reform the curriculum to make it an educational priority.

Related topics: