EcoHarmony: Zero-Waste Living

<< Background >>A zero-waste project with young people from various EU countries not only promotes environmental awareness, but also intercultural exchange and European solidarity. Young people actively engage with sustainable consumption, recycling and resource conservation - topics that directly affect their future. In doing so, they develop creative solutions, take responsibility and experience self-efficacy. The project addresses key needs of young people: Co-creation, the search for meaning, social belonging and international networking. By working together with their peers from other countries, they broaden their horizons, strengthen their communication skills and experience diversity as an enrichment. A project like this makes environmental protection tangible, promotes European values and motivates young people to actively work towards a sustainable future.<< Objectives >>Our zero-waste project for young people makes sense for several reasons. Firstly, it promotes environmental awareness and responsibility towards our planet. Young people learn how their daily choices and consumption habits affect the environment. This can lead to a more sustainable lifestyle that produces less waste and conserves resources.Secondly, such a project strengthens young people's creativity and problem-solving skills. They are encouraged to find innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. This can also improve their ability to develop creative solutions in other areas of life.Thirdly, a zero waste project promotes community and collaboration. Young people work together to achieve common goals, which strengthens their social skills and sense of community. They learn how to make bigger changes together.Finally, a zero waste project prepares young people for the future. In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and environmental protection, the skills and knowledge they gain through such a project are invaluable.<< Implementation >>We first found interested pupils through a casting. The interested pupils then exchanged ideas in Erasmus+ Club lessons and created ideas about what they would like to implement. A teachers' meeting in Bilbao then harmonized the schools' joint approach and the teachers exchanged their ideas and deepened their knowledge in brainstorming sessions and meetings.The following was implemented in the other Erasmus+ Club lessons:excursions, specialist presentations, implementation of ideas, preparation for the pupils' meeting in Portugal.A project meeting with all participating students from 5 countries in Torres Vedras, Portugal, in which we presented our results to each other and discussed them in small groups. Joint activities such as collecting garbage on the beach and visiting a recycling plant took place there.A dissemination event took place at each school, at which the project results were presented. PTS Schwaz, for example, was able to present its project to an audience of 300 people on a boat at Lake Achensee!Finally, the project was evaluated by all project participants.<< Results >>The EcoHarmony project generated a wide range of tangible outputs and meaningful results that contributed to raising environmental awareness, strengthening sustainability education, and promoting practical action among young people and educators across Europe.Dozens of unique, functional, and creative items were made from recycled or repurposed materials found at school like paper. A collection of digital entries, short videos, and photo stories documenting students’ learning experiences and activities were shared via school websites and the project’s Instagram page.Participants developed key competences, including teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, digital skills (e.g., video editing, presentations), and public speaking.Student-designed posters promoting zero-waste practices were printed and displayed in schools helping spread awareness in the classroom and beyond.Public exhibitions and presentations were held in each school to share the outcomes with families, local authorities, and the media.Through the transnational exchange, students built friendships, strengthened their intercultural communication skills, and discovered common values across countries.