From Waste to Warmth

In December, our Mirus Stronger Communities group partnered with Cyfle Cymru to contribute to the Crisp Packet Project CIC, which aims to give single-use plastic a new life, purpose, and beginning.

The group aimed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of homeless people in Cardiff this winter by creating crisp packet blankets. 

One group member said:   

“We’re turning these crisp packets into emergency blankets for people who are homeless.”  

A crisp packet blanket is a blanket made from recycled crisp packets. Similar to emergency thermal blankets, they help keep in body heat and protect against wind and rain. The blankets take 80 years to decompose, meaning they can be used for a long time.   

The group had a Zoom call with the founders of the Crisp Packet Project CIC, where they shared a tutorial on making emergency blankets. The Stronger Communities group discovered that it takes around 75 washed crisp packets to create a single blanket. The process involves ironing the packets together and bonding them to a clear recycled plastic sheet. 

The Stronger Communities group joined this initiative after Mark Griffiths, the group leader, saw a Facebook post by Danielle, a Team Leader at Cyfle Cymru, highlighting the appeal. 

Mark expressed:   

“I felt this could be a project our group could also be involved with as it fits perfectly into who we are as a Mirus Stronger Communities group. We often see, and many of us personally know, people who are homeless in and around Cardiff. 

“I asked people within the Stronger Communities group, and they were excited to help and wanted to be part of this amazing project.”   

Since getting involved, collection boxes have been placed in Mirus offices in Llanishen, Bridgend, and Brecon, as well as in Mirus Respite houses and one of the supported houses in Cardiff. This has encouraged many more people to donate crisp packets.    

The Stronger Communities group and Cyfle Cymru hold two-hour emergency blanket-making workshops every week, with more sessions planned for January. Both groups aim to distribute the blankets to homeless people in Cardiff during January.  

“What would be great is if we continue making the blankets throughout 2025 and have other Mirus houses making and distributing the blankets in their areas.”  

To get involved in this project, contact Mark Griffiths. 

Email: MarkG@mirus-wales.org.uk