Global Ingenuity: Plastic Bottles As WHAT?

This week, I’ve been thinking about how, despite the weak economy, we are blessed in the western world to have an abundant supply of basic resources like water, energy, housing, etc.  When a friend shared a video on Facebook about an ingenious use of a soda bottle to bring light into Filipino homes, I was wowed and started doing a little YouTube diving.  Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. But, you’d be surprised how the plastic bottles we take for granted have been used around the world in some of the most innovative ways.  Here are a few videos highlighting some of the more surprising inventions.

Plastic Bottles As Light Bulbs? [Philippines | Brazil | Chile]

This is brilliant — literally and figuratively. A Brazilian man, Alfredo Moser, came up with the idea to install plastic bottle sun-bulbs on his roof. Each is equivalent to a 60W light bulb. His idea is being used in places like the Philippines and Brazil to illuminate dark homes for free.

The Plastiki, A Sailboat Made From Used Plastic Bottles [San Francisco]
12500+ bottles filled with dry ice made it all the way from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia

Plastic Bottle Homes [Argentina]

All I can say to this concept is WOW.

An Entire Island Made Of Plastic Bottles? [Mexico]

Home Water Heater Made From Plastic Bottles [Brazil]