Waste to Wonder: Creativity Meets Sustainability at Apeejay Stya University

To celebrate creativity, sustainability, and interdisciplinary innovation, the School of Design and Visual Arts (SDVA) and the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS) at Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Gurugram successfully organised the “Best Out of Waste Exhibition”. The exhibition provided a dynamic platform for students to transform discarded materials into meaningful and functional products, highlighting the importance of environmental responsibility and resource conservation.

The programme was convened by Anupama Diwan, Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The event commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Vijay Vir Singh. The inauguration marked the beginning of an inspiring showcase that reflected the university’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices through education and innovation. The exhibition was attended by the Registrar, Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty members, and students from across the university.

The exhibition featured two categories—Junior and Senior—encouraging wide participation. The Junior Category comprised 15 participants forming four teams, while the Senior Category included 27 participants across nine teams. Each group presented unique and innovative ideas, demonstrating how waste materials can be repurposed into valuable products.

A diverse range of creative projects was displayed during the exhibition. Students crafted decorative lamps using waste wood, jute, plastic sheets, and even discarded bottles, showcasing artistic ingenuity. Natural materials such as dried wood bark and flower petals were transformed into flowerpot stands, bookmarks, and printed textiles, reflecting eco-friendly design approaches.

Several projects highlighted scientific innovation and environmental applications. One group developed biodegradable packaging material using wastepaper, integrating pharmaceutical knowledge with sustainability. Another team prepared incense sticks from dried flowers, demonstrating the reuse of floral waste. A particularly noteworthy project involved extracting beeswax from honeycomb to produce candles and lip balm, along with creating a natural mosquito repellent using neem and eucalyptus extracts.

Engineering and environmental awareness were also evident in projects such as a floating device made from waste bottles and sticks, designed to collect debris from water bodies. Students further showcased educational models, including a human digestive system made from disposable materials, and a project extracting calcium chloride from eggshells for use as fertilizer. One of the most innovative entries demonstrated electricity generation from cow dung, highlighting the potential of bio-waste as a renewable energy source.

The exhibition was evaluated by Amit Kaur Puri and Rajesh, who assessed the projects based on creativity, innovation, and presentation. They appreciated the remarkable efforts and originality displayed by the participants.

In the Junior Category, Group N secured the first position, followed by Group L and Group O in second and third places respectively. In the Senior Category, Group B was awarded the first position, while Group H and Group C secured the second and third positions.

Dr. Anupama Diwan commended the students for their innovative use of waste materials and emphasised the importance of sustainability in modern education. The Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vijay Vir Singh, encouraged students to continue exploring creative solutions to environmental challenges by applying their scientific and technical knowledge.

The exhibition concluded on a successful note, celebrating innovation, environmental awareness, and collaborative learning. It served as a powerful reminder that creativity, when combined with scientific understanding, can lead to sustainable solutions for real-world challenges.