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A large pile of scrap wood and wooden planks is stacked on the left side of a narrow outdoor passage, with more wood leaning against a wall on the right under a tarp. In the center, a dark doorway opens into a dimly lit interior where boxes and other items are visible. A red metal cart stands near the right side of the passage, and corrugated metal sheets lie on the ground.
  • 2 facilitators

Thursday 29 October 2026

Looking for a suitable backing board for our frames

Facilitated by Shemeer Babu and Vivek V

What the work needed: people, time, money, space and materials.
What went in
Visits to local shops and discussions about different backing boards, their materials and whether they could be recycled.

What was done with those inputs, step by step.

We visited several shops to find a backing board for our frames. We wanted to explore recycled and recyclable materials that could support and protect what goes inside the frame.

We looked at MDF, Multiwood, plywood, foam boards and other options. We also came across WPC panels, a material that was new to us. The options we found raised concerns about plastic content or how they could be recycled. We have not yet found a suitable board locally and are continuing the search.

What the team will keep or change next time.

Looking at different boards helped us understand that choosing a backing material needs careful checking. We need to ask what each board is made of, whether it contains recycled material and how it can be recycled after use. We also need to check whether it can properly support and protect the frame contents.

Othersaikyam spaceVivek Vaikyam space

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