Understanding and attitude toward upcycling according to the survey of students of various specialities

Abstract

The attitude to upcycling technologies of undergraduate students of five specialities (design, clothing industry technology, vocational education and training, industrial pharmacy and psychology) and their teachers was investigated using the questionnaire method. Students’ preferences practically do not depend on specialities. For all students, subgroups of upcycling enthusiasts and sceptics are observed which regularly resort to upcycling or almost do not use it. An almost complete misunderstanding and imperception of the benefits and importance of upcycling is a key and common problem. Social factors have a minimal influence on the opinion of respondents, which may indicate a lack of understanding in society of the role and importance of waste management. All the shortcomings and problems in understanding upcycling are common to students and teachers. In general, the positive attitude towards upcycling and the intention to use upcycling in life in the answers most likely has an unconscious and artificial character (like a fashion trend) because the attitude towards other formative factors does not support it. The identified problems are related to the shortcomings of secondary school and undergraduate curricula, which hinder the formation of the necessary competencies for sustainable development. Methods of their solution are proposed and discussed