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Project created in Caracaraí reuses aluminum cans in furniture production, combines unique technique, sustainability, and digital teaching, and shows how common waste can gain new functions in daily life.
Aluminum cans that could have been discarded in the trash or the environment are now being used in the production of furniture and utility pieces in Caracaraí, in the interior of Roraima.
The reuse is done by the Projeto Lata, created by entrepreneur Adriano Bezerra, who developed a technique to transform the material into benches, tables, trash bins, chairs, stands, and other everyday objects, without melting the tin or subjecting it to an industrial process.
The proposal uses the original structure of the cans as a base for assembling modular pieces.
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The material is dismantled, prepared, and reorganized to form sturdy objects, according to the project’s creator.
The initiative arose from an idea matured over more than two decades and is now also shared through digital content, in which Adriano teaches stages of the production process.
In Brazil, aluminum cans are part of one of the most consolidated recycling chains in the country.
According to a report released by Recicla Latas and reported by Agência Brasil, 97.3% of aluminum cans for beverages were recycled in 2024.
However, Projeto Lata follows another path within the logic of reuse: before the material returns to the industry, it is used directly in the manufacture of new products.
Projeto Lata was born at an invention fair
Adriano’s relationship with the reuse of cans began in 1995, during an invention fair in the state of São Paulo.
On that occasion, he participated in a conversation about solid waste and heard inventors discussing ways to produce objects from materials like PET and aluminum, preserving part of the original structure of these items.
The discussion led the entrepreneur to observe recyclable waste in a different way.
According to Adriano, the possibility of creating something functional without relying on immediate industrial transformation was recorded as a personal challenge.
From then on, cans and packaging stopped being seen merely as consumption leftovers and began to be studied as raw material for new applications.
“At that time, I heard people saying that the big breakthrough would be finding a way to produce using PET and cans. I started to look at these materials differently, as something that could be useful again, without needing to return to the industry. It was an idea that stayed with me for a long time until I managed to turn it into reality,” he recalls.
Between 1995 and 2009, Adriano produced small prototypes and tested simple objects, such as picture frames and supports.
The next stage began in 2009, when he started organizing his own production method, with daily records, technical adjustments, and repeated testing.
Two years later, according to the entrepreneur, the methodology was already consolidated for use in larger pieces.
How aluminum cans become furniture
The technique developed by Adriano starts with the disassembly of the can.
The parts of the packaging are separated, cut, and prepared for assembly.
Next, lids and other components are joined with wire, forming structures that can be adapted to different shapes and purposes.
With the advancement of the method, production was no longer limited to prototypes.
In six years, more than 2,000 pieces were sold, according to the information released about the project.
Among the items produced are tables, benches, trash cans, and chairs, which began to circulate at events, exhibitions, and cultural actions inside and outside Roraima.
One of the structures associated with the Projeto Lata is a bar built with about 200,000 can lids.
The piece was presented at cultural events in Caracaraí, including the municipality’s carnival, and helped to increase the dissemination of the work to the local public.
Adriano states that the process should not be classified merely as craftsmanship.
According to him, the method was developed and tested over the years to allow the production of functional and durable pieces.
“It is not just craftsmanship. We are talking about a technique developed, tested, and approved over the years, which shows that it is possible to transform discarded waste into something useful, durable, and functional,” he states.
The information that the technique is patented is included in the original material about the project.
However, no independent confirmation of the registration at the National Institute of Industrial Property with sufficient data for validation was found in an open public consultation.
Reuse of cans and durability of the pieces
The Projeto Lata is based on the direct reuse of a disposable material to prolong its usage cycle.
Instead of transforming the can into industrial raw material through melting, the technique uses parts of the packaging itself as construction components for furniture and utensils.
Adriano reports that some pieces produced by him have been in use for more than 15 years, without significant structural deterioration.
The durability, according to the entrepreneur, is one of the points that support the environmental proposal of the project, as it reduces the need for quick disposal of new products.
“I have pieces with more than 15 years of use that remain strong. This shows that it is not something disposable or fleeting. When you create a durable product from something that would be thrown away, you avoid disposal, reduce environmental impact, and still show that sustainability can also mean durability,” he highlights.
The logic adopted by the project approaches the concept of a circular economy, in which materials remain in circulation longer before being discarded or reinserted into the industrial chain.
In the case of cans, reuse occurs at a stage before conventional recycling, through the creation of new products from the packaging itself.
Sustainable technique is taught on social networks
In addition to local production, the Projeto Lata began to be promoted on digital platforms.
Adriano records, produces, and edits his own videos at home, with demonstrations on measurements, cuts, preparation of pieces, and assembly of structures.
The goal, according to him, is to teach the technique so that others can adapt the process to different models.
The proposal is not limited to reproducing a specific piece.
By understanding the preparation and assembly stages, the interested party can create variations of furniture and objects according to the need and availability of material.
“More important than teaching a ready-made model is teaching the technique. When a person understands the process, they can create different pieces, adapt ideas, and even turn it into a source of income. It’s not about decorating furniture, it’s about learning a concept that can open up new possibilities,” he summarizes.
Internet dissemination allows the methodology to circulate beyond Caracaraí.
The content can reach people working with recycling, crafts, or manual production, as well as those interested in waste reuse alternatives.
For Adriano, sharing the process can also serve as a path to generating income.
“Today I see this as knowledge that needs to be shared. There are many people who can learn, produce, sell, and find an opportunity in it. If a technique like this can help families generate income and still contribute to the environment, then it needs to reach more people,” he states.
Projeto Lata circulated in fairs and events
During its development journey, the project received support from the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises of Roraima, Sebrae/RR.
The institution offered consultations, support for participation in fairs, and transportation for exhibitions in different states, according to the information available about the initiative.
Among the venues where the Lata Project was presented are the Palace of Culture, in Boa Vista, in 2009; the Entrepreneur Fair and the Industry Fair, in the capital of Roraima, in 2010 and 2013; an exhibition at Manauara Shopping, in Manaus; Amazontech, in Amapá, in 2012; and the II World Forum on Local Economic Development, held in Foz do Iguaçu, in 2013.
These participations expanded the project’s reach and brought the technique into contact with audiences from different areas.
According to Adriano, universities, engineers, and professionals connected to automation showed interest in the production model.
In 2010, Adriano Bezerra de Souza’s name was also associated with the “Lata Project: Ecologically Correct” in an official publication of the Microprojects More Culture in the Legal Amazon, an initiative related to the federal government.
The record confirms the presence of the project in cultural and environmental actions aimed at the Amazon region.
For the entrepreneur, the technique represents a practical way to reduce waste and expand the use of materials that have already circulated in consumption.
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