Why We Recycle
We use recycled and community-donated materials in every single class - not just because it's good for the planet, but because we believe it's good for kids.
The materials for creativity are all around us.
We use recycled materials because we want every child to walk away knowing that making something doesn't require a trip to the store. The cardboard tube, the bottle cap, the fabric scrap — these are all raw material for imagination. Problem-solving doesn't require expensive supplies. It requires curiosity.
And yes — it's also great for the environment. But the philosophy runs deeper than that.
Creativity Doesn't Have a Price Tag
Here's what we really believe about recycled materials and the creative process.
Creativity Lives Everywhere
One of the most powerful things we can teach a child is that the materials for making are all around them — in the recycling bin, in the junk drawer, in the garage. You don't need a trip to the craft store to make something beautiful. You need curiosity and a willingness to look differently at what already exists.
Problem-Solving Without a Price Tag
Real problem-solving doesn't require expensive tools. It requires thinking. When a child figures out how to make a sculpture stand up using only cardboard and tape, they're doing engineering. When they mix two paint colours to get the one they need, they're doing science. The constraint of limited materials is actually a feature — it forces creative thinking.
Removing Barriers to Making
Too many kids — and adults — believe that art requires special supplies, special talent, or special permission. We want to dismantle that belief entirely. When a child makes something extraordinary out of a toilet paper roll and some yarn, they learn that they are the creative force — not the materials. That's a lesson that transfers to every area of life.
Community as a Creative Resource
When families donate materials to CleverCraftsClub, they become part of the creative process. The bubble wrap from your last Amazon order becomes a printing tool. The fabric scraps from a sewing project become a collage. There's something deeply meaningful about a community pooling its "waste" to fuel a child's imagination.
The Environmental Benefits
The planet wins too. Here's how our recycled-materials approach makes a real difference.
Keeps Waste Out of Landfill
Every bottle cap, fabric scrap, and cardboard tube we use in class is one less thing in the trash. Multiplied across hundreds of kids and sessions, that adds up.
Reduces Demand for New Materials
When we don't buy new art supplies, we reduce the energy, packaging, and shipping that goes into producing them. Less consumption, less impact.
Builds Environmental Awareness
Kids who learn to see value in "waste" grow up thinking differently about what they throw away. That mindset shift lasts a lifetime.
Connects to Our Conservation Mission
Our recycling practice is inseparable from our commitment to protecting local natural areas. We give back to the land by taking less from it.
Our environmental commitment goes beyond the craft table. We also donate a portion of our earnings to preserve local natural areas in London, ON and Southwestern Ontario. Learn about our conservation partners →
What We Accept
Here are some of the materials we love to receive from our community:
A few guidelines:
- Materials should be clean and dry
- No broken glass or sharp metal edges
- No items with strong odours
- Not sure? Just ask — we're happy to help
Recyclables Guide
Print this out and stick it on your recycling bin!
Want to Donate Materials?
Your recycled materials become a child's next masterpiece. Get in touch to arrange a drop-off — we'd love to hear from you.