Stephen Bonnici trying out the Ekocycle Cube 3D printer with a ‘freshly printed’ mobile cover in his hand.

Would you have ever imagined that a Coca-Cola plastic bottle could be turned into a mobile phone cover, a ring, a model boat or a bracelet at the touch of a button from the comfort of your home?

Pop star Will.i.am, together with The Coca-Cola Company, created Ekocycle to motivate brands to make things partly from recycled materials.

Following last year’s successful participation at Science in the City, during which the science behind the manufacturing of a soft drink bottle was explained, Coca-Cola, through local producers GSD Marketing Ltd, will this year be introducing the innovative Ekocycle Cube 3D printer.

“This technology allows everyone, from students to artists and inventors, to actively experience recycling. It’s not just creating an object at home, it’s about changing how we view recycling,” says Stephen Bonnici, public affairs and communications manager of GSD Marketing Ltd.

Waste is only waste if we waste it

“The Ekocycle Cube prints with a filament cartridge made in part from assorted post-consumer recycled Coca-Cola PET plastic bottles. Each Ekocycle cartridge transforms the equivalent of three small bottles of Coke into anything, from wearable fashion accessories to desk decorations. The machine comes with a variety of 25 different patterns which could be used to create various everyday objects, in red, black, white and natural.”

“Waste is only waste if we waste it,” says global musical artist and producer Will.i.am. “With the Ekocycle brand, I’m on a mission to educate and inspire consumers around the globe to seek out more sustainable lifestyle choices that will ultimately play a part in the movement towards a world with zero waste.

“By making products that contain recycled materials more attractive to both businesses and consumers, everyone can do their part to keep the cycle going to turn discarded waste into cool, new items.

“The Coca-Cola Company shares this vision and together, working with local communities worldwide, we will showcase the greater value of recycling, as well as selecting products that feature recycled materials.”

One can see the Ekocycle Cube printer in action at Science in the City in Valletta this evening. It will be available at the Coca-Cola stand, near Pjazza Teatru Rjal from 6pm until midnight.