Unnatural Resources
Our planet has a serious trash problem.
Most recycling ends up in landfills or in our oceans.
the equivalent of one dumpster truck of trash is dumped into the ocean every minute
Time we do something about it.
Learn how to transform trash into toys
what trash can be used as a resource?
Everyday items come that are in packaging.
Never throw away packaging again.
Cereal boxes, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, styrofoam and more.
Browse our growing list of Unnatural Resources
remember to clean your trash.
Use lukewarm water & dish soap to clean plastic trash.
Do not use any trash with smelly stains.
bottle caps
Bottle caps are made from aluminium and polyethene.
they are an excellent to create once-off airtight seals.
Found on glass bottles that contain liquids,
for example on a refreshing ice-cold coca-cola soda bottle
toymakers use bottle caps as currency in case of fallout and to texturize surfaces
Bottle Lids
Bottle lids are made from polyethene – a hard plastic.
they are used close containers and protect the contents
Found on most plastic bottles with liquids,
for example, soda bottles or milk cartons
toymakers use bottle lids as finishing touches, infrastructure & texturizing
Cereal Boxes
Cereal boxes are made from thin cardboard.
many items from the grocery store will come packaged in this
Found as packaging for many items from the supermarket that needs some protection,
for example, the boxes most cereal comes in are made from thin cardboard
Toymakers love to use thin cardboard as roof-texturing and for creating shapes.
Corrugated Cardboard
strong cardboard made from fluted layers of fibre,
these durable sheets are commonly-used globally
Found as the box in which deliveries are made from. Pizza boxes are made from this.
for example, online purchases usually get delivered in corrugated boxes.
Toymakers love to use corrugated cardboard as infrastructure and texturizing.
Dried Tea Bag leaves
the “dust and fanning’s” from broken tea leaves
Found in used tea bags
Removed from the tea bag and dried out in the sun for an afternoon
Be careful not to stain your clothes. They’re full of tannins!
Egg box cartons
egg-box carton is made from recycled paper,
and offers eggcellent insulation.
found in kitchens & grocery stores
for example, wherever you keep your eggs
toymakers use egg box carton as a texture that replicates bricks and stone
Ice-cream Sticks
also known as lollipop-sticks or stirrers,
these straight pieces are made from wood
found inside ice-creams, lollipops & coffee shops.
For example, some candy or lollipops available from your tuck shop or cafe
Toymakers use these straight pieces of wood to mimic wood and provide textures
Milk bottles
your everyday regular plastic milk bottle
made from high/low-density polyethene
Found typically in a fridge in a kitchen
for example, when you making breakfast or a cup of tea
toymakers use plastic milk bottles as texturizing and infrastructure.
Old CD’s
made from a brittle but sturdy plastic called polycarbonate,
these compact discs are ancient versions of iPods
Found in rooms or cars with CD players
For example, in the glove compartment of your grandparent’s car with a CD player
toymakers use these circular flat discs as finishings and infrastructure
Old Electric wires
Most old & broken home appliances have old electric wires that contain copper wires wrapped in rubber-polymers
Found on broken appliances – ask an adult to help remove the wire
For example, an old toaster or lamp that is being thrown away,
an adult can remove the wire for you
Toymakers love to use old electric wires as the copper inside bends nicely for making trees
Packaging Boxes
these are large boxes made from rigid corrugated cardboard
they are used to protect fragile contents.
Found when ordering most things you buy online, or when you’re moving house,
If you buy something from Amazon, it will come in a box
Toymakers use packaging boxes as a great source of infrastructure and corrugated cardboard
Paper Clips
metal wire wrapped in plastic,
perfect for clipping a few pieces of paper together
Found in schools, offices, studies, and desks.
for example, anywhere people sit and do paperwork
toymakers use the wire of the paperclip to make finishings and shapes.
Pencil Shavings
AKA – sawdust, which is made from wood
it is a result of sharpening your pencil or woodwork
Found inside classrooms, offices or hardware stores.
for example, inside your pencil sharpener or where your dad has drilled some wood
toymakers use sawdust as flocking and as finishing touches
Pizza Boxes
Pizza boxes are made from corrugated cardboard.
The lids of pizza boxes are an excelelnt source for clean trash
Found as boxes for, Duh, pizzas. If you haven’t ordered pizza before, you haven’t lived,
for example, a pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut is as good as it gets
By only using the cardboard pieces that do not have stains, toymaker can create infrastructure
Plastic & metal containers
lightweight, sturdy containers made from both metal &/or plastic
to protect a variety of contents from damage & moisture
Found as containers for many items from the grocery store that require constant opening & closing
for example, coffee tins, peanut butter jars, canned food, etc.
toymakers use these containers as shapes and infrastructure
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are a cheap way to protect & seal goods from moisture.
commonly used for everything & everywhere.
Found as packaging for your groceries and as the packaging of the groceries themselves.
for example, the bags for your fruit & vegetables, sugar, carrier bags, etc.
Toymakers use plastic bags nearly all toymaking. The most common uses are traceable schematics or textures.
plastic bottles
single-use plastic bottles come in all shapes and sizes,
made from polyethene terephthalate to be rigid & light
Found as containers for most liquids like bottled water or soda.
For example, a bottle of soda from your local store
toymakers use plastic bottles as infrastructure and shaping
Plastic Cake Tins
single-use plastic covers are transparent and maintain their shape
used to protect baked goods and keep them fresh
Found in supermarkets, grocery stores, and bakeries,
for example, most premade cakes come with a cake tin
toymakers use transparent cake tins as finishings and shapes.
Plastic Soda Bottles
single-use transparent polypropylene bottles,
used to protect liquid contents
Found commonly as many soda brands, bottled water, ice-tea and more
For example, coca-cola, bonaqua and pepsi
Toymakers use these thin-plastic containers as infrastructure and as textures
Plastic trays
single-use transparent polypropylene containers,
used to protect contents and keep them fresh
Found as containers for many fruits and snacks that risk bruising.
For example, strawberries or grapes come packaged in these
Toymakers use these thin-plastic containers as infrastructure and as textures
Plastic cups
single-use containers are made from polypropylene
and are often discarded after one use.
Found as meal containers for many snacks, lunches and microwave meals.
for example, small yogurt tubs or microwave meals
Toymakers use these containers as infrastructure and surface texturizing
Plastic Containers
single-use transparent polypropylene containers,
used to protect contents and keep them fresh
Found as containers for many fruits and snacks that risk bruising.
For example, strawberries or grapes come packaged in these
Toymakers use these thin-plastic containers as infrastructure and as textures
Plastic Tubs
Plastic tubs are made from high-density polypropylene,
a rigid type of plastic that can be recycled.
Found as containers for many dairy products that you would find in store.
for example, yoghurt or cream comes in these plastic tubs
toymakers use plastic tubs as infrastructure and shapes.
Sand
sand is made from rocks & minerals,
like grains through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives
Found on beaches, gardens, building sites & playgrounds,
for example, the beach is made from it
toymakers use sand as a texture and finishing.
Skewers
sharp sticks made from either wood or bamboo,
great for roasting marshmallows
Found in kitchens, restaurants, dining rooms and BBQ’s
for example, when you are eating kebab or sosaties
toymakers use skewers for making holes and finishings.
soda can tray
these trays are made from corrugated cardboard.
They are used to carry slightly heavier contents.
Found in supermarkets, tuck shops, and liquor stores.
for example, the 24 cans of soda you bought in the shops come in a tray
Corrugated cardboard is perfect for creating infrastructure and model-bases
Straws
straws are single-use items made from plastic,
a tough Polypropylene item to recycle due to size
Found in many supermarkets, groceries, and restaurants
For example, many drinks purchased come with a straw
Toymakers use straws as surface texturizing and finishing
Thick-Cardboard boxes
with sturdy replaceable lids also made from thick cardboard
these are different to corrugated cardboard, with no flutes
Found as containers for many items that require a box but which are not too fragile,
for example, shoeboxes are usually made from thick cardboard
Toymakers use thick cardboard for shaping and texturizing
thin-cardboard boxes
Cookie boxes are made from thin cardboard.
many items from the grocery store will come packaged in this
Found in supermarkets as containers for any item that requires moderate protection.
for example, cereal boxes & boxes of cookies are made from thin cardboard
Toymakers love to use thin cardboard as roof-texturing and for creating new shapes.
Thorns
Thorns grow on bushes and trees.
Nature’s version of stepping on lego
Found on dead stalks, branches or on the ground near thorn trees,
for example, rose-bush thorns can easily be snapped off
toymakers use thorns as a finishing.
Toilet Paper Rolls
Toilet paper rolls are made from thin cardboard strips
which are rolled into circular tubes
Found as inners used to wrap thin materials around in a roll-shape,
for example, wrapped inside toilet paper, cling wrap or paper towels
Toymakers use TP rolls as infrastructure and shapes.
Twigs & sticks
old and dead twigs & sticks that have already fallen to the ground
Found near big trees in gardens or parks,
for example, the park near to where you stay has trees
toymakers use twigs and sticks to texturize and mimic.
“It always seems impossible until it is done“
Nelson Mandela
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