Dubai National School students recognised for creative recycled artworks that promote sustainability and environmental awareness.

Three students from Dubai National School have been recognised for their creativity and environmental awareness after winning Epson’s ReCreators Contest, a sustainability-focused competition that challenged young learners to transform waste materials into meaningful works of art.

Launched by Epson on World Sustainability Day in October 2025, the competition invited schools across the UAE to encourage students aged seven to 12 to explore recycling through creativity. The initiative aimed to help children understand the value of reusing materials and the impact that everyday choices can have on the environment.

The contest featured three categories: Best Use of Recycled Materials, Most Creative Design, and Most Practical/Inspiring Idea. Entries were evaluated by Epson’s regional leadership team alongside local influencer Dina Butti.

The winning students — Abdulrahman Al Madani, Thani bin Ghlaita and Karam Tarrab — created artworks using discarded materials under the guidance of art teacher Hanan Alazawi. Their projects included a bird sculpture crafted from electronic waste and old compact discs, a seascape featuring a boat made from plastic bottle caps and discarded plastic, and a colourful landscape with a smiling sun created from assorted bottle caps.

Suad Abu Harb, Principal of Dubai National School, praised the students for their efforts and creativity.

“I congratulate the winners and all the students who participated in the competition for the fantastic artwork they created,” she said. “Everyone involved in the initiative was amazed by the level of creativity and innovation shown by the students and the beautiful artwork they created from discarded items.”

She added that the initiative encouraged students to think about the impact of waste, the importance of recycling and the role creativity can play in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour.

As part of the competition, each winning student received an Epson EcoTank printer, while participating schools were awarded Epson projectors. Selected entries, including the winning artworks, were also showcased on Epson’s social media platforms.

The name ReCreators combines the words “recycle” and “create”, reflecting the programme’s goal of encouraging students to see themselves as agents of positive change who can transform waste into something valuable.

Bella Tobing, Head of Corporate Sustainability and Government Affairs at Epson, said the initiative was designed to nurture both creativity and environmental responsibility among young people.

“Our aim was to empower young minds to explore new skills, think innovatively and express their creativity while caring for the planet by using recyclable materials,” she said.

She noted that the competition also helped raise awareness of the importance of reusing and recycling materials in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The initiative forms part of Epson’s broader commitment to sustainability and environmental innovation, with the company working towards its long-term goal of becoming carbon negative and free from the use of non-renewable underground resources by 2050.

Through projects such as ReCreators, students are encouraged to see waste not as something to discard, but as a resource that can inspire imagination, learning and positive environmental action.