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Welcome questions & answers on cpp
This section is where we hope all your questions will be answered. Plus at the bottom of this page is our safety advice and pdf poster, educational packs and logos that show you support CPP .
All your questions Answered and educational packs
Questions and Answers
Q&A
Q; How many crisp packet does it take to make a crisp packet project survival sheet ?
A; It takes 44 regular size crisp packets or any size crisp packet to make a grid of 100cm by 200cm or a blanket 75 crisp packets
Q; How many crisp packets dose it take to make a Crisp packet project Bivi bag ?
A; It takes 150 crisp packets or 110cm by 210cm x2 and no grater than 125cm by 225 x 2 panels . Our New Bivi bag is now 135 crisp packets with one large 10 inch window.
Q; What plastic do I use ?
A; All plastic should me clear plastic not any colours this is very important as colours have more toxins in it.
Your plastic should be as thick as a plastic bread bag and not any thinner slightly thicker is ok . You will find if your plastic is to thick it will be to bulky to fold up and will take longer to fuse. Some thicker plastic can be used for handles and making ponchos if not to thick .
So cling film and wrap is to thin. And plastic that beds and carpets come in is to thick to fuse. Please make sure it is a fuse not a melt and you don’t touch the iron with your plastic us a big sheet of baking paper. Use a well ventilated area and a mask is recommend. If you do get plastic on your iron remove by scraping on the side of an old table while hot.
Q. How long does a survival sheet take to make start to finish ?
A. A survival sheet takes about 1 and half hours
and a Bivi bag roughly 3 and a half hours
Q. What are the best crisp packets to use ?
A.The best crisp packets to use are most walkers brands or anything that is fairly soft. most leading supper-market brands .
Q. What are the worse crisp packets to use?
A. Sensations and lentil curls are some of the worst packets. anything thick in paint and dark or light in colour. These heat up differently. And once the plastic goes on can leave holes. I would not use Chocolate packets again the plastic doesn’t fuse as well .
Q. What equipment do you need?
A. Your need an iron , baking paper, scissors and a tape measure. A mask or a well ventilated room to work in.
Q. Can I make these for My local community?
A. Yes you can make this to help your less fortunate community. Either hand them out or get in touch with your community out reach team .
Q. How do you open a crisp packet ?
A.To prepare your crisp packet one end will be open already then open the bottom then cut one side or the middle of the back panel. Then you have a crisp packet opened landscape way. Then wash.
Q. How do you wash a crisp packet?
A. You can either wash them in warm soapy water then hang out to dry or towel dry. Or put them in your washing machine cut open on a quick wash in a pillow case tied up not more than 30 degrees. Or place them cut in your dishwasher. All towel dry or hang out.
Q. How long do these items last ?
A. This really depends on how well you make them and how well your less fortunate friend looks after it . People I know still have my first ones . They are very strong . I have had a couple come back to re fix when they have torn them on trees and nails . I give them a new one and peach the old one back up to use again . Some of our less fortunate community pass them on once they are not homeless anymore.
Q. How do they work?
A. They work because the crisp packet silver side reflects your heat back into your body the strong materials in the crisp packet plus the plastic fused on to the packets makes this a supple strong long lasting material .
Q. Do the homeless like them ?
A. Our less fortunate community only have praise for these items they have given me a lot of advice over the year and they say this is an amazing bit of kit. One chap said this was the best thing that helped him living on the streets for 6 months.
Q. How do I distribute them ?
A. You can find a local out reach charity maybe a church or if you see someone living on the streets ask if they would like your item. These items are good to keep in your car in an emergency also. or you can post to us to then send out.
We hand them out to Survival The Streets Uk Charity. I go out with them on there evening feeds Also there fantastic team that has them on there 0800 number so anyone in the area of Hastings can ring and they will deliver. We now send out to different counties.
Q. How can I help ?
A. You can by collecting or making these life saving items in your local community.
Q. Where can I get plastic from ?
A. You can get the right clear plastic from most supermarkets, warehouses clothes shops .
Q. Can I open a CPP area Facebook group ?
A. You can open a CPP Area group if you have made one crisp packet survival sheet . You can use our crisp packet project group logo and all our information. Please do get in touch if you would like to do this so we can mentor and guide you with our information
We have a CPP Organisers group on Facebook to help you and we all help each each other ..
Q. Can I open my own none CPP group ?
A. You can open your own group. Get cracking on making these life saving items. Please do not use our photos. Sadly People have been making money through using our photos which is a real shame . As we didn’t mind at first but as this has happened I have to say no. If you are wanting to use our information to make money please do think again. This project is to help people and to give one use plastics a new life. if you become a CPP AREA GROUP ON Facebook YOU CAN USE ALL OUR information.
Q. How can our school organisation get involved?
A. Your school can get involved by having a collection box , washing and cutting your packets either then sending them to one off our groups or why not get making these life saving lives. Maybe your school would like a zoom demonstration from the founder of this project Pen Huston.
Q. What are your CPP survival items ?
A. CPP survival sheet / blanket
CPP Bivi sleeping bag
Poncho made from landfill waste plastic
Pouches made from coffee bags
Plastic weave torso mat
CPP cushions
CPP sack bags \draw string
CPP wash kit bag
CPP torso mat /dog bed
Q. How long has your project been running?
A. This project has been running since November 2019
Q. Is this an on going project?
A. This is an on going project until there are no more homeless needing our items.
Q. Is this a charity?
This is not a registered charity , we are a CIC, community interest company, non profit organisation.
Q. Do we make money?
A. We receive small donations which help pay towards electric, equipment, rent and postage costs.
Q. How many volunteers help run the CPP ?
A. We have roughly 15 Hastings CPP volunteers we are a very productive group .
A. How do I book a zoom ?
Q. Please look at our information on how to book a zoom then send us your information on booking form / confirmation on payment.
Then we will send your zoom details and confirmation.
A. Will you be going on tour again ?
A. At this time of uncertainty I think not. But for now we are concentrating on Zoom demonstration to keep spreading and teaching how to make your your own survival items. We have just started holding cpp workshops in the East Sussex area.
Q. How many CPP area groups are there ?
A. We have 38 CPP area groups and growing every day
How many crisp packets does it take to make?
Health and Safety Guide
Please be aware and work in a ventilated area
Please be carful when using your iron and make sure children are supervised at all times. That when making these items it is at your own risk. We are fusing plastic not melting it, even so there will be toxins produced. Please make sure you make these items in a well ventilated area. The mask we advise to be worn is a A2p3 seen in diagram and for sale in most DIY Stores. You can use other masks but just make sure you open your windows and doors for ventilation.
Safety advice on the best masks to wear
Important information Please read safety Advice
Safety advice on what are the best masks to be worn .A A2p3 is the best mask to use, When making items please use a well ventilated area and a mask . Please hit the link to find out what filter mask is. best .