{"id":1153,"date":"2017-04-11T11:26:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T11:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.indigobusiness.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1153"},"modified":"2024-03-04T14:31:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T14:31:14","slug":"eco-bottle-caps-double-as-lego-blocks-classic-lateral-thinking-in-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpblog.indigobusiness.co.uk\/eco-bottle-caps-double-as-lego-blocks-classic-lateral-thinking-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco bottle caps double as Lego blocks. Classic Lateral Thinking in action."},"content":{"rendered":"

This article, first published in March 2010, has become\u00a0topical again with\u00a0all the discussion regarding\u00a0implementing a plastic bottle tax to tackle waste and ocean pollution<\/a>. With a little Lateral Thinking<\/a>\u00a0there could be more innovative ways to solve these challenges…<\/p>\n

…bottle caps typically serve a humble purpose and aren\u2019t really thought of as the most multipurpose practical invention ever \u2014 instead, they contribute to\u00a0more than USD 1 billion worth of plastic waste\u00a0that ends up in US landfills each year, rather than being recycled. While in the past we have seen initiatives turn them into\u00a0mini indoor gardens<\/a>, a new scheme called\u00a0Clever Caps<\/a>\u00a0has redesigned them to give them extra use as Lego-style bricks after they\u2019ve finished their life as a bottle cap.<\/p>\n

Created by Brazil-based innovative packaging developer Clever Pack, the caps are designed initially as standard PCO 1881 finish bottle tops that provide a secure seal for beverages. However, once they\u2019ve served their purpose as a bottle cap, the ridges on top and underneath mean that each one can be clipped onto another. They don\u2019t need to be thrown away, or even recycled \u2014 the Clever Caps can be saved each time a bottle is finished and used to create a collection of building blocks, either as a children\u2019s toy or as a tool for innovators to design with. The caps even work with existing brands such as Lego, offering even more possibilities for creation when they\u2019re combined with different shapes. All of this is achieved without significantly adding to the material used to create the initial bottle cap. The video below explains more about the project:<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a>

Click the image to see Clever Caps in action on YouTube<\/p><\/div>\n

Clever Caps offer an environmentally friendly solution to the production of bottle caps while also adding value to the objects to encourage consumers to re-use them.<\/p>\n

This classic application of Edward de Bono’s\u00a0Lateral Thinking<\/a>\u00a0techniques adds bottom-line value to not only the producer, but also to the environment. \u00a0Are there other ways packaging can be redesigned to be used after it\u2019s served its initial purpose?<\/p>\n

Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking workshop<\/strong><\/p>\n

Empower your people to challenge current thinking, solve problems and generate new ideas, more about the workshop<\/a>:<\/p>\n