Elephant Manure and Recycled Plastic Turned into Festival Lighting

This year, researchers will test outdoor lighting made from recycled plastic, plant-based materials and elephant manure at the TT Festival in Assen, the Netherlands. The project explores how local waste streams can serve as raw materials for new products.

Instead of testing the material in a laboratory, the team has installed the lampshades across the festival site. The festival environment allows researchers to observe how the material performs under everyday conditions and how visitors respond to it.

Turning Waste into a Composite Material

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences leads the project, titled From Manure to Stage Light. The team produces the lampshades from a composite material that combines recycled plastic with fibres recovered from animal manure.

Herbivorous animals leave behind manure that contains plant fibres. After processing these fibres, researchers can use them as a component in new material formulations. In this project, they combine the fibres with recycled plastic to create a material for outdoor use. The lampshade serves as the first application. However, the research also investigates how local residual streams could support products for public spaces and the built environment.

Evaluating Technical Performance and Public Acceptance

The researchers will monitor how the lampshades withstand changing weather conditions, temperature fluctuations and intensive use during the festival. The test aims to provide insight into the material’s durability and suitability for outdoor applications.

At the same time, the team will gather feedback from festival visitors. This feedback will help researchers understand how people perceive the material and the idea of using waste-derived resources in everyday products. The project therefore examines both technical performance and user acceptance. These factors can influence the future adoption of circular materials and products.

Research Beyond the Laboratory

The initiative forms part of a wider programme that allows Dutch universities of applied sciences to test innovations in real-life environments. Festivals and living labs provide opportunities to collect practical data and direct user feedback during the development process.

NHL Stenden University’s Circular Plastics research group developed From Manure to Stage Light with support from Innofest and Regieorgaan SIA. The team works on the project in collaboration with WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo Emmen.

Source & photo: Innofest