Did you know that only 5.5% of plastic bottles sold in the UK are recycled? That leaves a staggering 40,000 tonnes of waste heading to landfill every single year. Even worse, bottle caps rarely make it into recycling streams because they’re made from different plastics than the bottles themselves. Enter CAPtivate—a brilliant upcycling project by designer Lula Dot that transforms discarded bottle caps into beautiful ambient lighting.
How CAPtivate Works
This innovative light fixture turns everyday waste into functional art. The genius of CAPtivate lies in its simplicity: different coloured bottle caps screw onto the light to create unique colour combinations and patterns. Each light comes with fifty caps, but you can keep collecting and swapping them to create endless designs. It’s upcycling that actually encourages you to keep creating!
Where Do the Materials Come From?
CAPtivate sources its materials from unexpected places:
- Artenius Packaging supplies damaged plastic PET bottle preforms—those injection-moulded bottles that couldn’t be recycled before they’re blow-moulded into final shape. One company’s waste becomes another designer’s treasure.
- West Ham United donates bottle caps collected from their home games. Stadium staff remove caps from all bottles sold inside to prevent fans from using them as missiles. Instead of binning them, these caps now light homes across the UK.
A Social Impact Design
What makes CAPtivate even more special is where it gets assembled. The collected materials are sent to Watford Workshop, a registered charity providing training and employment for people with disabilities. This isn’t just an upcycling project—it’s a design that creates real social value.
Design Specs
Dimensions: W 190 x H 220 mm
Why We Love It
CAPtivate perfectly embodies sustainable design principles. It addresses a genuine waste problem, involves multiple waste streams, creates jobs, and produces something genuinely beautiful. Plus, it’s interactive—you’re constantly engaged in recreating the light as you collect new caps. No two setups need look the same.
Whether you’re a dedicated upcycler or just looking for a stylish way to reduce plastic waste, CAPtivate proves that sustainable living doesn’t mean sacrificing design or function. It’s proof that the best upcycling projects solve real problems while looking absolutely stunning doing it.
Design by Lula Dot
Since you’re here …
I have a small favor to ask. Thousands are visiting upcycleDZINE for upcycle design inspiration every month. Readers in more than 100 countries around the world are now able to support financially.
upcycleDZINE is a completely independent niche site, is very work-intensive, and offers tons of unique information for free.
To keep upcycleDZINE running, I’m asking you for your support.
Your contribution will allow me to:
– meet the hosting costs
– upgrade to keep track of traffic increases
– add new content, and keep improving the older content
– add new functionalities to this site
– improve how it works and how it looks
– and last but not least, my daily dose of coffee 🙂
Again, all contributions will be reinvested into the aforementioned associated costs of running this blog and will help ensure the ongoing quest for quality upcycle design.
Your kindness and generosity will be greatly appreciated and will give me the motivation to continue.
Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for the future of upcycleDZINE.
Support today from as little as $2 – it only takes a minute. Thank you.
