Recycling Challenge - Educational Game Installation
For IdeenExpo 2024, we partnered with Rossmann to create a game that introduces young audiences to the circular economy. As a member of Forum Rezyklat, Rossmann is committed to promoting sustainable packaging solutions by increasing the use of recycled materials. While we developed the game experience, event it ensured a seamless booth integration, creating an engaging space where digital interaction and physical design worked hand in hand. The installation engages kids aged 9–15 in a playful way, making complex recycling processes tangible and inspiring future professionals to think sustainably. In times of skilled labor shortages, it helps Rossmann connect with future talent early on and strengthen its position as a responsible employer.
Making Recycling Tangible for the Next Generation
Rossmann wanted to bring their recycling initiatives to life in a way that captivates and educates young visitors. Traditional sustainability exhibits often lack engagement, so our goal was to design an interactive experience that would immerse players in the process of recycling—making it hands-on, fun, and memorable. At the same time, Rossmann aimed to strengthen its own association with sustainability. By integrating real-world recycling steps into the gameplay—directly tied to Rossmann’s packaging and store environment—we ensured that players not only learned about recycling in general but also connected it to the brand itself.
A Flexible, Future-Proof Installation
Since the installation was set to premiere at IdeenExpo 2024, we developed it with flexibility in mind. The game can be reused at future trade fairs or even expanded into web-based applications, ensuring long-term value as an ongoing educational tool.
Seamless Booth Integration
At IdeenExpo 2024, the Recycling Challenge was fully embedded into Rossmann’s sustainability-themed booth. The game was displayed on TV screens, creating an inviting interaction space where visitors could step up and start playing instantly. Positioned at eye level, the screens ensured easy accessibility for players of all ages, while the booth’s natural wood textures and greenery reinforced the topic of sustainability. The setup allowed multiple participants to engage simultaneously, drawing steady visitor traffic and making the game a central touchpoint of the Rossmann experience.
A Visually Unique World
We created a distinctive art style, blending paper-cut design elements with stop-motion-like animations. This handcrafted look reinforces the tactile nature of recycling, making the learning process even more engaging.
Four Interactive Missions, One Big Challenge
The Recycling Challenge consists of four touch-based mini-games, each representing a step in the recycling process. Players start with waste sorting, swiping different types of trash (paper, plastic, hazardous materials) into the correct bins. Next, in a Fruit Ninja-inspired shredding game, they slice through incoming waste to break it down into recyclable granules. In the final stages, players reassemble the shredded material like a puzzle to form new packaging, reinforcing the idea of material reuse. The last challenge takes them to a Rossmann store, where they must sort the newly created packaging onto the correct shelves, completing the recycling loop. Each mission is easy to learn yet engaging, ensuring that players stay immersed while absorbing key sustainability messages.
Gamification for Lasting Impact
By combining interactive gameplay with education, we created an experience that makes recycling accessible and fun for younger audiences. The Recycling Challenge doesn’t just explain sustainability—it lets players experience it first-hand. And with its modular, future-proof design, the game will continue to educate and engage at future trade fairs and beyond.
