From Waste to Wonder - Used Water Bottles Get an Artistic Facelift

Ecological Art, or "Eco Art," incorporates natural and recycled materials to create stunning visual masterpieces. This contemporary form of art was developed by artists who express concern for their local and global environments. While there are a variety of interpretations of Eco Art, the primary goal is to represent a positive relationship between humans and nature through artistic expression.


Used water bottles have become a popular material for eco artists. A majority of water bottles end up in landfills rather than being recycled. Eco artists are bringing new life to the seemingly plastic waste by constructing unique works of art, bringing renewed life to otherwise "trash." Here are some beautiful examples of Eco Art using water bottles:

Miwa Koizumi PET Project - In 2007, Miwa launched her PET project in which she uses #1 plastic bottles to create jellyfish and other sea creatures. The name PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a resin used in the process of making water bottles. On her website, Miwa states, "I love the idea of using liquid containers to make water animals. Contained/containing, trash/not-trash, like the jelly-fish or anemone: Living/non-living. And I wanted some pets..."


She continues to make her "pets," and now sells prints of her artwork.

Anthropologie - Anthropologie, a shop for women's clothing, accessories and home decor, installs amazing sculpture art pieces in their store front each season. In Spring 2010, the store unveiled their new display, adorned with a plethora of hand-crafted flowers assembled from water bottles. The company also sent an e-mail to customers providing how-to instructions to make your own plastic flowers and statistics on water bottle waste.

Sarah Turner - Eco artist and designer Sarah Turner has created a ReDesigned Lighting Collection in which lighting fixtures are made from a variety of plastic drink bottles. Table lamps, floor lamps, lampshades and other decorative items are available for purchase on her website. Sarah's work is also featured in various fashion and home exhibits across the world.

Finding new uses for old water bottles can be a fun, hands-on project. Next time you go to throw away your bottle, challenge yourself to create something beautiful out of it.


What are some of the creative ways you have reused a water bottle? Share your ideas with us or any other pieces of water bottle art you have stumbled upon.