BRAZIL-RECYCLING-BOTTLE CAPS Brazilian scientist promotes recycling of bottle caps to combat waste

Record ID: 567127

  • Title: BRAZIL-RECYCLING-BOTTLE CAPS Brazilian scientist promotes recycling of bottle caps to combat waste
  • Date: 18th September 2014
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 16, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES WITH LEGO-LIKE CAPS CLOSE-UP OF LITTLE CAR BUILT FROM LEGO-LIKE CAPS VARIOUS OF DECORATIVE LAMPS BUILT FROM THE LEGO-LIKE CAPS CLOSE-UP OF SMALL LEGO CAP BEING UNSCREWED FROM SMALL TUBE PLASTIC "CLEVER CAP" IS PUT ONTO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE INVENTOR, CLAUDIO VOLLERS, SHOWING LAPTOP STAND BUILT FROM THE CLEVER CAPS VOLLER ON THE PHONE, SEATED AT TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) INVENTOR, CLAUDIO VOLLERS, SAYING: "The concept is not to just make something better, because better is cheaper, quicker, prettier, but more of the same. It's difficult to come up with something outside the box. So, I really feel good because I think we managed to accomplish something outside the box. We didn't make a better cap. This is a cap that at the final point of sale generates a new value with the customer." VOLLERS SEATED WITH VARIOUS CAPS ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF HIM VARIOUS OF SHELVING ON THE WALLS BUILT WITH CLEVER CAPS COFFEE TABLE BUILT PARTIALLY BY CLEVER CAPS VARIOUS OF CLEVER CAP BOX WITH "LOVE" SPELLED INSIDE IT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) INVENTOR, CLAUDIO VOLLERS, SAYING: "It gives an opportunity to children who may have never really had the chance to have a toy that they can play with. And secondly for artists, I think it provides another raw material. So, this social need is met by creating this new raw material that these days would just be thrown away or recycled. But we have so many caps that don't end up being recycled. They end up on the ground or the beach or in the sea." VARIOUS OF VOLLERS AND SOME OF HIS MANY LITTLE CONSTRUCTIONS MADE FROM HIS CLEVER CAPS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) INVENTOR, CLAUDIO VOLLERS, SAYING: "We are in the final phase, in the phase of certification. As it is a product for play that children will be interested in, we are doing this certification so that we can see if we need to have warnings such as, 'Attention, children under three..,' something like that. When we finally get this certification it is going to hit the market directly." VARIOUS OF CLEVER CAPS COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY LINE VARIOUS OF VOLLERS INSPECTING CAPS OFF THE LINE
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAPK0NYUJFMNXVV23E9G34CB96
  • Story Text: Drinking bottled water and other drinks is a throroughly modern phenomenon, sometimes derided by stand-up comics, but universally agreed upon as popular. Ensuring the leftover bottle and caps are properly disposed of, however, is often not part of the trend. The too often neglected practice usually results in the bottle and cap being tossed in the trash or worse.
    That all may soon change, if Brazilian inventor Claudio Vollers gets his way. His hope is for the public to turn what used to be waste into usable or novelty products.
    The inventor has found a way to turn the average bottle cap into a collectible piece that can be used on its own or attached with the iconic Lego pieces to build a wide variety of colorful creations, like a stand for laptops.
    His "clever caps" product is slated to soon find its way on the market.
    Vollers said he considers the caps to be truly innovative.
    "The concept is not to just make something better, because better is cheaper, quicker, prettier, but more of the same. It's difficult to come up with something outside the box. So, I really feel good because I think we managed to accomplish something outside the box. We didn't make a better cap. This is a cap that at the final point of sale generates a new value with the customer," Vollers said.
    Vollers has already spent a lot of time modeling objects like a mini police car or helicopter in addition to much more functional items.
    The inventor has even turned what he calls his "Clever Caps" into shelving, tables and colorful lamps.
    The plastic packaging specialist said his invention has the potential to serve a variety of purposes.
    "It gives an opportunity to children who may have never really had the chance to have a toy that they can play with. And secondly for artists, I think it provides another raw material. So, this social need is met by creating this new raw material that these days would just be thrown away or recycled. But we have so many caps that don't end up being recycled. They end up on the ground or the beach or in the sea," Vollers said.
    The inventor's bit hope is that people will avoid throwing the caps away.
    The Clever Caps project cost an estimated 2 million reais ($859,000) to develop.
    And with Voller recently closing his first official deal with the Brazilian market, local consumers are close to getting their hands on the Clever Caps.
    Vollers said that some final certifications is all that stand in the way from releasing the caps on the market.
    "We are in the final phase, in the phase of certification. As it is a product for play that children will be interested in, we are doing this certification so that we can see if we need to have warnings such as, 'Attention, children under three..,' something like that. When we finally get this certification it is going to hit the market directly," Vollers said.
    Voller has already received international acclaim for his invention at design award shows in both Germany and England.
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