Why did the banana play games?

Dave McCormick on playful approach to tackling climate change

A woman dressed as a banana sitting at a table playing a game with a woman not dressed as a banana — Banana and friend playing a climate-focused game (Credit – David McCormick_

Playing games is usually fun. Playing games with a purpose is fun and can also educate, stimulate conversations and, sometimes, inspire behaviour change.

Creative Sensemaking CIC (“Sensemaking”) has, with support from the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), developed a set of sustainability games to help people learn about reducing food waste, recycling household waste, improving indoor air quality, rethinking consumption and simple actions that can make a big difference. To get as many people as possible playing, games have been given to local community groups for use at events.

During Barnet Climate Action Week there were three events, attended in total by over 500 people, where the games were set out on tables for people to play.

The first event ‘Cool Beans’, run by Incredible Edible Barnet, focused on how beans can be the basis for cheap, tasty and nutritious meals and how by eating more beans and other plant-based food we can do our bit to help address the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

A few days later, Sensemaking ran a five-hour game play event at Middlesex University. As well as playing games there were great conversations about how serious play can make education more engaging and impactful, and build the university’s reputation as a place of creative learning.

One of the community groups that have been given games is the North Finchley Community Grocery at St Barnabas which was set up in 2025 to provide affordable food shopping and community support.

Its first birthday celebration party was the opportunity for more game play, and it was here that the banana made an appearance, had fun and helped make a difference to people’s lives.

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