Making eco-bricks step-by-step

1. Segregate clean and dry plastics

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2. Choose your bottle

• Consider 3 factors;

  • Availability: choose the bottle that everyone can easily come by

  • Volume: small volume bottles are recommended for first-timers!

  • Your project: consider the size of bottle that will perfectly suit your construction

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3. Get your stick ready;

• Bamboo and wood make the best

• The size of the stick is about 1/3 the width of standard bottle opening

• Avoid sharp cornered sticks

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4. NO! Glass, metal or biodegradables

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5. Start by adding bottom colour

• Choose a soft plastic with a solid colour

6.   Pack the bottle tight, mixing plastic

• Cut or rip up large plastic waste into smaller pieces

• The smaller the denser!

• Use your stick to push down

• Mix soft and hard plastic to maximize the density

7.   Weigh your ecobrick to ensure quality

• Minimum weight; bottle’s volume x 0.33

• Maximum density; 0.7 g/ml

• Low density eco bricks are fire hazards because of the air pockets remaining inside

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8.  Cap and lock

• Besure the ecobrick is not overflowing packed

• Should be about 1-2 cm between the cap and the plastic inside

• The cap is made of different type of plastic than the bottle and is the weakest part

• Besure to avoid flip-tops or sports caps when sealing

• Once capped, record your ecobricks!

  1. The ecobriker’s name

  2. The final weigh

  3. Date and year

  4. The intended project

  5. Serial number (generated by GoBrik App)

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9. Inscribe

• Record the data on the ecobrick itself

• Avoid using paper labels, tape, or stickers

• Avoid using permanent marker

• Use either nail polish or enamel/oil paint

10. Store your eco bricks

• Store indoor, away from the sun

• If possible protect with cloth or tarp

• Stack horizontally with the end point outward

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11. Build!

• Make Milstein modules for horizontal construction

• Make Dieleman Lego modules for vertical construction