Recycling challenges caused by large quantities of plastic bottles could become alleviated with a simple solution that a French-Israelian entrepreneur pulled out of his sleeve, a rubber band.
Morris Amsellem, the CEO of waste solution company Ecoams Planet, recently unveiled “Bakbuk.” Bakbuk is a revolutionary way to recycle, which allows beverage manufacturers and consumers to compact plastic bottles to help make the recycling process easier.
Amsellem explained:
Bakbuk is bringing a revolution in all phases of recycling: for the consumer, it is simple and efficient to use, reduces the frequency of throwing [bottles] into the recycling bin by a factor of five, and provides a tremendous ecological response to catastrophic plastic pollution worldwide.
When the rubber band wraps tight around the folded-up empty bottle, its volume is reduced by up to 80%. In addition to making it easier for the recycling process, reducing the size also saves space in the recycling bin. Therefore, the recycling company won’t have to make as many trips to pick up the trash, saving fuel and carbon emissions.
Amsellem added:
In addition, for the recycling company, it reduces the number of journeys to recycling sites, reduces transportation and compression costs, and generally increases efficiency and productivity. For the beverage companies, it provides solutions for sustainable development, a ‘circular economy’ solution, and a solution that is relevant to customers.
Any polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles, such as the ones used by the world’s leading beverage makers, can be made compact using the rubber band solution. So far, 58 countries around the world have filed for patent applications, led by Israeli patent and trademark firm Ehrlich & Fenster. Meanwhile, 14 countries already have patents.
The company plans to bring the innovation directly to consumers’ households, by including the solution in bottles sold by major beverage manufacturers.
Ipsos conducted a US survey for Ecoams Planet and found that 91% of consumers were in favor of the solution and said that it was an important innovation. When the survey asked if the consumers would be willing to pay money for the solution, 69% said they would spend one cent on it, while 12% said they would spend more than five cents on this product.
