CU Boulder design students recycle diverted materials into new products at the Firefly Handmade Market Pop-Up Shop

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BOULDER, November 6, 2024 – CU Boulder | Environmental product design

They transform redirected waste into innovative products that will be featured and sold at their experimental pop-up shop at the Firefly Handmade Holiday Market at Pearl Street Mall on November 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. These students will create a store designed and built by them and sell their original designs, each made from recycled materials into truly unique gifts. These products tell a powerful story of sustainability and highlight the role of design in addressing the global climate crisis.

The student-designed products, many of which quickly sold out last year, are not typical gifts. They are primarily made from redirected materials and converted into functional and beautifully designed items. Each product comes with a story and process video that provides insight into how waste was diverted from landfill and transformed into market-ready products. The EPOP Shop not only offers the public an opportunity to support sustainable design, but also stimulates conversations about waste reduction and the environmental impact of everyday decisions.

This initiative allows students to experience the entire design process – from sketch to sale – through the real-world application of designing, producing and selling in a live market. This year's 38 students represent the next generation of designers who are innovating to create meaningful change, starting with the way we deal with waste.

For more information on future events, markets and exhibitions, and to see how CU Boulder's Environmental Product Design students are advancing sustainability through creative reuse and upcycling, visit them on Instagram (which they do!): @cuboulderEPOP and