Serco is an international public services provider working in partnership with local authorities across the UK. In Lambeth, Serco supports waste and recycling services, helping communities reduce environmental impact and improve local sustainability outcomes.
As part of this work, Serco collaborates with schools to promote positive environmental behaviours from an early age.
Serco approached us to help design a pack of educational materials for schools across Lambeth with the aim of encouraging Key Stage 2 pupils (aged 7–11) to build strong recycling habits.
The project included three key assets: a teachers’ pack PDF, a teachers’ slide deck, and an eco team slide deck. Each asset needed to be visually appealing, age-appropriate, and easy to understand, while reinforcing positive environmental behaviours. The core objectives were to:
After an initial briefing, we focused on creating bespoke illustrated materials specifically for children. We began by developing mood boards and then sketching concepts by hand, exploring playful, simple illustration styles that would appeal to 7–11-year-olds. Once the concepts were approved, we recreated the illustrations digitally, ensuring they were clear, fun and age-appropriate.
We paid careful attention to balancing educational content with visual engagement. The teachers’ pack worksheets were designed to be simple and interactive, while the slide decks used image-led storytelling, keeping text to a minimum to maintain pupils’ focus. Illustrations were consistent across all assets, creating a cohesive, friendly and approachable visual language.
Using a mix of illustrations and photos of real objects allowed us to demonstrate recycling processes and behaviours in a way children could easily understand. Icons, infographics and playful characters were incorporated to make the content engaging, relatable and enjoyable, while still clearly reinforcing the key environmental message.
The final resource pack equipped Lambeth schools with accessible, classroom-ready materials that teachers could use immediately. Pupils were able to engage with recycling in a practical, hands-on way, supported by visuals that demystified what happens to waste and why their actions matter. Feedback highlighted that the materials were easy to use, visually engaging and well suited to the Key Stage 2 age group.
The work has helped to normalise recycling behaviours in schools, encouraging pupils to take ownership through eco teams and everyday actions such as sorting waste correctly, reducing rubbish and reusing materials wherever possible.
