Children Get The Chance To Become Inventors – For the Sake of the Planet

Published on: 20 Jun, 2026
Updated on: 20 Jun, 2026

The project gets underway at Guildford Library. Plastics toys that could have ended up at the dump are given a new lease of life

By David Reading

Twenty-eight million toys are thrown away every year in the UK, according to eco-scientist Dr Renee Tonkin. And because 90 per cent are made out of plastic, there are serious repercussions for the environment.

The climate educator from New Zealand is on a mission, and on Saturday (June 20) she brought her message to Guildford, where she invited children to take part in a fun, educational project that puts reduction of carbon emissions at its centre.

The children, all aged under ten, were invited to Guildford Library where they dismantled old broken toys and used the parts to design and build new inventions.

It’s part of a programme called the Broken Umbrella Challenge, which teaches children how to look past “trash” and see how something can be created from it.

The programme aims to promote environmental awareness by actively countering the culture of waste. And children are often receptive to the lessons being promoted.

Renee Tonkin – who is educating children about how to think creatively

“The idea is that we are challenging children to think like scientists and engineers,” said Dr Tonkin, who is a founder of Science Owl, a UK-based environmental education company.

“In taking apart broken toys, they think creatively and try and invent something with the pieces. It’s all about reducing waste.”

She said that of the 28 million toys thrown away every year in the UK, 90 per cent are made out of plastic and many end up in charity shops. This a problem for charities because a lot of the toys are broken and become waste.

Science Owl says it aims to shift the narrative around climate change from fear to hope by fostering problem-solving skills, scientific inquiry and active green solutions.

Penny was one of the children taking part at Guildford Library. She created what she calls her planet explorer

Among Science Owl’s work is the development of hands-on learning resources for children, including custom STEM kits featured on BBC One like the Build Your Own Carbon Dioxide Monitor Kit.

Dr Tonkin has been featured on BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live to discuss her educational initiatives. She was named one of the “26 Women to Watch in 2026” by New Zealand Woman’s Weekly and is an Aspen Institute UK Rising Leaders Fellow.

Amelia used a merry-go-round as the basis for a new creation. The intention behind the project is that children will become aware of environmental issues