As I’am a person who upcycles plastic milk containers into lighting, it isn’t strange being immediately attracted by this upcycle design project. It’s a project called ‘PET Lamp‘ by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón.
In the Summer of 2011, on a visit to Colombia, he was invited to be part of an attractive project focussed on the reuse of PET bottles. “Hélène Le Drogou, psychologist and activist concerned with the plastic waste that contaminates the Colombian Amazon, invited me to give my point of view as an industrial designer on this problem.”
Plastic bottles turn into delightful lighting
He decided to develop a project that would provide answers, from a design viewpoint, to this global issue. “The way we addressed this problem was to combine it with an ancient artisan resource: the textile tradition. Thus, my idea was to convert an object with a short and specific lifespan into a product enriched by the cosmogony of the local culture.”
The result is discarded plastic bottles that are upcycled into delightful, fun and quirky lighting objects. PET Lamps are crafted by local artisans, most of whom have been driven from their homes by guerrilla war between the FARC and drug cartels. PET Lamp was presented in the market for the first time at the Milan Furniture Fair, 2013.
Just look at how much these reused plastic bottles enhance the character of room. It’s so great to see a project like PET Lamp creating work for the local community while it also attacks the waste problem.
Photos © PET Lamp
Project by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón
Since you’re here …
I have a small favor to ask. Thousands are visiting upcycleDZINE for upcycle design inspiration every month. Readers in more than 100 countries around the world are now able to support financially.
upcycleDZINE is a completely independent niche site, is very work-intensive, and offers tons of unique information for free.
To keep upcycleDZINE running, I’m asking you for your support.
Your contribution will allow me to:
– meet the hosting costs
– upgrade to keep track of traffic increases
– add new content, and keep improving the older content
– add new functionalities to this site
– improve how it works and how it looks
– and last but not least, my daily dose of coffee 🙂
Again, all contributions will be reinvested into the aforementioned associated costs of running this blog and will help ensure the ongoing quest for quality upcycle design.
Your kindness and generosity will be greatly appreciated and will give me the motivation to continue.
Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for the future of upcycleDZINE.
Support today from as little as $2 – it only takes a minute. Thank you.
