Revolutionizing Recycling: Cans'n Caps by Hakan Gürsu

Turning Aluminum Cans into Functional Everyday Objects

Aluminum cans, dating back to the 70s, have long been a symbol of the environmental movement due to their recyclability. Today, they are one of the most significant consumer products. However, despite their benefits, the recycling rate of aluminum is only around 50%. Every minute, approximately 113,204 aluminum cans are recycled, while around 100,000 cans are discarded, ending up in landfills. This is where Hakan Gürsu's innovative design, Cans'n Caps, comes into play.

Cans'n Caps are designed to repurpose every aluminum beverage can in several unique ways. The design adds various functions to used cans with each different cap. The primary goal of this project is to reduce aluminum can waste in nature by reusing them, while also raising environmental awareness among people worldwide. It's an open-ended project that can grow and expand with the addition of several different functions based on different user groups and needs.

These caps have the potential to become everyday objects in individuals’ lives, such as a spice container set in the kitchen or a candle set for special occasions. They can also be used in service places like diners, drawing attention to the repurposed aluminum can while serving customers. The major contribution is to increase social awareness on reusing and rethinking products' lifecycle in developed countries. Additionally, Cans'n Caps can serve as cost-free functional objects and gadgets in underdeveloped societies.

The novelty and innovation of this design lie in its ability to raise awareness about the wastage of aluminum cans and encourage people to reuse them as functional and customized products. Planned as a promotional tool for a social responsibility campaign on the environment, Cans'n Caps also contributes to branding by making cans a part of daily life.

The working principle of Cans'n Caps is simple. The caps snap-fit on standard aluminum beverage cans. Once used cans are washed and cleaned, they are filled with dry or liquid ingredients according to pre-defined labels or any other content that can be labeled by the user. The aluminum can is then capped and ready to be used. Since aluminum beverage cans are already manufactured with a protective polymer coating applied on the inside, they make a durable and suitable container for such everyday objects.

With Cans'n Caps, a regular six-pack beverage package transforms into six different objects with reused cans. Different caps with different colors add several functions to the aluminum container, such as spice and seasoning containers, grease container, candle, coin-bank, or even a feeding bottle for pets. This design's ingenuity and environmental impact have earned it the prestigious Golden A' Idea and Conceptual Design Award in 2012.