Because at MSP we are always connected with students eager to learn more and discover new perspectives, at the Summer School in Măgurele we joined with a new intervention about how we can recycle clothes efficiently and creatively.
Daniela Staicu, social entrepreneur, co-founder of ALTRNTV and active member of the Măgurele Science Park community, delivered a presentation entitled “Planet’s Resources: How We Innovate in the Textile Industry to Protect the Environment.” She also prepared a team-based hands-on activity for students, on the same topic.
MSP at the beginning and end of the 2025 edition of the Summer School in Măgurele
For the students attending the Summer School in Măgurele, the day started with a presentation on “Perspectives of New Technologies in the Nuclear Field,” delivered by Bogdan Temergan, Investment Expert at S.N. “Nuclearelectrica” S.A.
The next presentation was delivered by AMSP’s guest, Daniela Staicu, who facilitated an interactive discussion with students about the importance of sustainability, how the textile industry pollutes the planet, and included a series of practical activities with them.
About the guest from MSP
Daniela Staicu is a university lecturer at the Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages (FABIZ) within the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and a social entrepreneur.
With 10 years of experience in social entrepreneurship and academic studies in the field, Daniela is the co-creator of ALTRNTV, a business dedicated to promoting sustainable product design made in Romania, and she designs and implements educational programs in schools focused on responsible consumption and production.
As a Fulbright Scholar at Penn State University, USA (2018–2019), she deepened her knowledge of sustainable business practices and the development of social enterprises at a global level.
For 13 years, she has formed a strong team with her colleague Alina, and together they have conceived and implemented innovative health initiatives for children — mobile dental clinics for disadvantaged groups of children — demonstrating practical experience in social innovation.
The Presentation
As both a university lecturer and an entrepreneur, Daniela shared how she started her business – ALTRNTV, how she obtained funding, how she attracted her first designers to collaborate with, and how the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) was created.
She continued by showing the students a video explaining what ALTRNTV is and how this concept — recycling clothes and turning them into art — came to life.
“Science and entrepreneurship go very well together; it doesn’t hurt to also have a business specialization. Our goal was to provide a space for these very talented designers. For example, one of our designers creates different types of jewelry from melted plastic obtained from bottles,” she explained after the video.
She also explained to the students, who asked questions, what certifications are about, giving details about the three certifications her company holds, how organic cotton is verified, and why such procedures are important, as they adapt over time depending on operational activity.
She highlighted to students that in order for clothes to be recyclable, the materials must be eco-friendly, such as hemp, organic cotton, or recycled fibers.
Key certifications mentioned included:
- GOTS: organic certification and respect for workers
- OEKO-TEX: guarantees the absence of toxic substances
- GRS: standard for recycled materials
Her presentation also covered concepts such as circular economy, fast vs. slow fashion, and social cost.
Practical Activities
To explain the concepts clearly to students, Daniela used hands-on activities throughout the presentation to visually illustrate ideas.
For example, a highlight for students was representing the journey of a typical fast fashion T-shirt through a ball of yarn that circulated among students, each representing a step in the production chain:
China → Malaysia → Myanmar → China → Bangladesh → The Netherlands!
Another point of interest was a quiz about consumer attitudes and behavior toward clothing. Students answered the questions, and the most valuable part came from their curiosities, such as how often it is recommended to buy new clothes and what types. They learned that brightly colored clothes often contain strong dyes that pollute the environment, and that the most eco-friendly choice is to wear clothes in warm or pastel tones (beige, cream, white) that do not contain chemical dyes.
The final activity was a role-playing exercise. Students grouped into teams of 4–5 and each received a card with a scenario related to sustainability or recycling.
After taking on the role of the character facing that scenario, the students presented their solutions on flipchart paper and shared them with their peers, answering questions when asked.
End of Summer Vacation, End of Summer School
Before saying goodbye to the students, we made sure they left with the key takeaways from the presentation, and we left room for one last Q&A session, where Daniela answered their questions.
We hope this was a beautiful and engaging experience for them and that we will meet again next year with a new generation full of curiosity and joy.
Congratulations to the organizers of the Summer School of Science and Technology, who this year chose “sustainability” as the central theme, and we look forward to being part of this already traditional event in Măgurele again next year.
