PPG has announced the launch of a digital lesson created by partner Centrum JongerenCommunicatie Chemie (C3), a Dutch education nonprofit that introduces children and young people to chemistry and life sciences.
In the lesson, “The Sustainability Factory,” pupils create their own paint factory online, making choices in categories such as raw materials, energy, packaging, and transportation, which helps them to learn about sustainability. The effect of their choices is shown in scores for sustainability, price, quality, and the start date of the factory, and they can adapt their choices to see the effect.
Rosienne Steensma, program lead, chemicals strategy for sustainability, Royal Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI); Jeroen Sijbers, C3 director; and Maurice de Wit, PPG director, production and logistics, Benelux, Architectural Coatings, launched the lesson at the Nationale Onderwijstentoonstelling (NOT) education fair in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
“This lesson is a perfect tool to playfully introduce children to the complexities of sustainability. But above all, it shows that there are always choices to be made and you can influence the outcome,” said de Wit.
PPG, university science faculties, VNCI, and the Dutch Association of Paint and Printing Ink Manufacturers (VVVF) contributed funds and content for the lesson.