One of the 6 finalists of this year’s Electrolux Design Lab is a device that would aid in the recycling of PET (polyethylene) bottles, allowing you to transform them into clothing at home. The concept comes from Hungarian designer Kovács Apor. Apor humbly describes the device as “nothing more than a special trash bin.” In reality, it is far more interesting. Instead of throwing alway your empty PET bottles, you would feed them into the machine, PETE. The device then transforms the bottle into polyester (which is also made from PET) and 3D prints an article of clothing. Apor imagines an interface on PETE through which you would select the type of garment you want made, the fit, and color. PETE would then alert you to how many bottle were needed to product the garment. While I am not sure how many polyester clothes people want in their wardrobe, this is a smart way to create a second life for plastic bottles and to keep them out of landfills. Head past the break to see a video of the concept:
