7/15/09
Summer Recycling Projects Become Crafts for Kids
Kids find new uses for FIJI bottles.
Summer is in full swing and my girls and I are loving the outdoors! I particularly love that my house stays cleaner. My kids are 2 and ready for my little art lessons I dreamed of when I was pregnant. I thought I”d teach them about recycling. What better way to practice than on FIJI Water bottles!
So far we”ve made:
- A flower vase
- Musical maracas (adding popcorn seeds to the empty bottles!)
- Bowling set (We bowl using a soccer ball and eight empty FIJI bottles)
- Airplanes (ok, the hole in the neck was where the “pilot” sits)
- Cardboard cars (We used the FIJI cardboard box to make cars that we”re painting)
We”ve got some fun stuff going on. Cheers to your summer and reducing your carbon footprint by recycling your plastic bottles!
And if you’re feeling really adventurous and crafty, why not try to recycle a few cases worth of bottles into a chandelier or haute couture dress?
tamsinv says:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I have just returned from a nine-day break in the Ra province. I was amazed at the invisibility of any recycling facilities for Fiji Water, in any of the villages. I was told of one village along Kings road that had some ’sacks’ that were collected by Fiji Water. What about all the other villages? I would be interested in finding out from Fiji Water how it plans to protect its marketing approach as signalled on the back of all its bottles – the water comes from a pristine virgin ecosystem…. The ecosystem that I drove through, walked through and swam through was strewn with discarded Fiji Water bottles…
FIJI Green Gal says:
August 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Hi, tamsinv, and thank you for raising this topic. We are, indeed, very mindful of the ecosystem from which our water comes and that gives it such wonderful taste and healthful properties. And we have been working hard to protect it. While we are supporting recycling programs and legislation across our markets, we have been especially involved in our home base in Fiji. FIJI Water has partnered with Coca-Cola Amatil to help in funding the country”s most expansive recycling program, reaching recycling rates of over 40%. And while this rate is above that of many industrialized nations, the U.S. included, we think there is room to grow.
In addition to sponsoring this ambitious nation-wide consumer recycling program, we have also implemented several recycling initiatives at our bottling facility in Fiji and in its surrounding communities. Our own plant will recycle over 95% of all manufacturing waste by the end of this fall, reducing landfill waste to a minimum. Moreover, we have begun extending the plant”s recycling program to collect recyclables from local communities by setting up collection depots across near villages.
We agree with you that protecting the Fijian pristine environment is an important task and our continued waste reduction efforts will contribute to this goal. Not only do our recycling initiatives in Fiji help to teach and encourage environmental stewardship but they also bring economic and social benefits to the Fijian communities.
jeff epstein says:
August 21st, 2009 at 8:24 am
I would like to submit a note to FIJIGreenGal on this topic (without posting publicly) regarding innovative re-uses… how can I do so?
Thank you
Smolio says:
August 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Reusing this stuff for a short period of time for whatever plaything you can come up with is fun, but doesn’t solve the fundamental problem: this is plastic, it will be around for another 30,000 years in some landfill (or, if recycled it will use energy and deplete the planet of more water.) Why are you buying something that comes for free out of your tap? By not supporting the need for clean, safe tap water in your community, you are committing hydro-apartheid: the poor will be left with the contaminated water and the rich will drink the expensive stuff from half-way around the world. Water should not be made into another high status commodity; it is an insult to those of us who depend on it every day.
FIJI Green Gal says:
August 27th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Smolio,
As you already know, by producing our water where we do, we are actually able to help communities in that country to gain clean water access. As for recycling, plastic water bottles represent only 0.3% of all municipal waste that goes into landfills. Of this, FIJI Water accounts for less than 2%. Moreover, we are champions for recycling and work in Fiji as well as our other markets to support recycling legislation and bills and participate in recycling programs. It is not realistic to think that anyone will be able to eliminate plastic from our lives (back to that You Tube grocery video – it has become the fundamental packaging material for virtually all kinds of consumer products), but we can educate consumers on the importance of recycling. And by using PET, which is much better for the environment than glass bottles, we are choosing the most recyclable kind of resin.
David Icanberry says:
September 18th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I’m all for supporting using recycled products for arts and crafts with kids. Its very important for children to be creative with their choice in media, not just using pre-packaged sets or ideas. There are all sorts of fun things kids can do with these fiji bottles, and Fiji should be commended for their efforts encouraging people to re-use, no matter how small the amount. If you’d like to see more projects using household objects you should check out http://www.looledo.com, I think you’ll find it usefull.
FIJI Media Gal says:
September 18th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
David,
Thanks for the link! Do you have any particular recycling-minded projects you could recommend from the site? Or any of your own personal favorites?
David Icanberry says:
October 9th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I really like the Viking Ship, its made from an old milk carton, some plastic bags, string and tape. Almost every project from the site is created with re-used items. I think the most applicable to Fiji would be the Water Bottle Bass fish, you can definately use a fiji bottle for the project. Its my fathers website actually, so if you have any other questions please contact me