KSB & Every Can Counts turns aluminium cans into beautiful art installations at University of Strathclyde

In a recent collaboration between environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) and the non-profit organisation Every Can Counts, aluminium cans were transformed into a striking piece of art at the University of Strathclyde. This initiative included a can collection drive and the creation of an art installation to raise awareness about the aluminium can recycling process.

Image Source: Keep Scotland Beautiful

Aim of the project

The project aimed to raise awareness among students about the lifecycle of aluminium cans. Keep Scotland Beautiful’s 2024 Scottish Litter Survey, released earlier this month, revealed that over half of respondents (63 per cent) frequently observe drink cans littered, highlighting the need for improved recycling efforts. To engage the university community, students were invited to vote for their favourite artwork design through an in-person poll on campus in October and an Instagram poll.

Heather McLaughlin, our Campaigns and Social Innovation Manager said: “This fun and creative stunt aimed to encourage students to think more about recycling and the life cycle of a can. We know there is a high recycling rate at the university but our latest Scottish Litter Survey has shown just how often people spot cans as litter across the country so there is still work to be done to encourage more people to dispose of their litter correctly – ensuring precious resources are captured and brought back to use in another form.”

Colourful Coo

The winning concept, a Colourful Coo, was created using approximately 2,000 recycled cans. The installation was unveiled on November 20 at Rottenrow Gardens, a prominent spot on university grounds, serving as a striking reminder of the value of recycling.

“It was really inspiring to see so many students take part in this stunt, and I’d like to thank the University of Strathclyde for their support. Eighty-two per cent of people want to see more efforts to prevent litter and we’re determined to continue trying new, innovative methods to support the country’s desire for positive change,” added Heather McLaughlin.

The campaign

This campaign is part of a broader set of initiatives introduced at the University of Strathclyde aimed at fostering positive recycling habits. These efforts, funded by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), include the installation of Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), targeted campaign messaging, and campus-based focus groups designed to drive meaningful behaviour change.

The interventions build on an earlier collaboration between our organisation, Clackmannanshire Council, Falkirk Council, Stirling Council, and Forth Valley College. Partially funded by CCEP, this partnership was developed earlier this year to align with the Year 1 Action Plan of the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy (NLFS), reflecting our ongoing commitment to tackling litter and promoting sustainability.

Chris Latham-Warde, Every Can Counts Programme Manager – UK & Ireland, added, “We were delighted to bring our PixelCan art installation to Scotland for the first time as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s ongoing behaviour change campaign at the University of Strathclyde. The colourful Highland Cow design was created from 2,000 hand-painted recycled cans, showing students that while each individual can is small, they come together to form a much bigger picture. And when it comes to recycling, the bigger environmental picture is, of course, what we want students to keep in mind. Drink cans are made from aluminium, which has the potential to be recycled forever, but this only happens if we keep the material in circulation by putting our empty cans in a recycling bin.”