From Toy Box to Art Wall: A Second Life for Plastic in Asia’s Greenest Public Art

Singapore’s SG60 Mural Turns Toy Waste into a National Canvas

In a dazzling fusion of sustainability, education, and national pride, over 147 kilograms of discarded plastic toys have been transformed into Singapore’s largest mural made from reused plastics — a vibrant 13.5m-wide installation unveiled at Promenade MRT Station on July 2, 2025.

The mural, titled “Building Our Nation Over Generations,”is more than a commemorative artwork for Singapore’s 60th birthday. It’s a 

bold statement on Asia’s growing circular economy movement, where waste is no longer the end of a product’s life, but the beginning of something new.

Plastic Toys: From Landfill to Legacy

Toys are among the most plastic-intensive consumer goods globally, often made from mixed materials that are difficult to recycle. In Asia, where toy consumption is booming, this poses a mounting environmental challenge.

But Kinderland International Education, the preschool group behind the SG60 mural, saw an opportunity. Partnering with SMRT Trains, YTL PowerSeraya, and Lions Befrienders, they mobilized over 10,000 participants, including 5,000 preschoolers, to collect, sort, and repurpose old toys into art.

The result? A mural that not only depicts Singaporean icons like Sir Stamford Raffles and Ah Meng the orangutan, but also embodies the principles of reuse, community action, and environmental stewardship.

A Lesson in Sustainability for the Next Generation

This project wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was a hands-on sustainability lesson for children. From dismantling oversized toys to gluing them onto mural boards, preschoolers learned the value of resourcefulness, teamwork, and environmental care.

Artist Fadhlin A.G., who designed the mural, emphasized that “art should be something everyone can understand, appreciate, and connect with” — especially when it carries a message as urgent as plastic waste reduction.

A Model for Asia’s Circular Future

The SG60 mural aligns with broader regional efforts, such as the ASEAN Declaration on Plastic Circularity, which calls for full-life-cycle approaches to plastic use and waste. It also echoes the Asian Development Bank’s push for financing circular economy projects that engage communities and reduce environmental impact.

By turning toy waste into public art, Singapore has offered a scalable, replicable model for how the toy industry — and society at large — can rethink plastic’s role in our lives.

Art in Transit, Message in Motion

Located in one of Singapore’s busiest MRT stations, the mural is seen by thousands daily — a constant reminder that sustainability starts with small hands and big ideas.

As six-year-old participant Ayesha put it: “Recycling helps the Earth, and the Earth will be clean”.