The name Can Products stands for products made from old beverage cans and for the company, which manufactures these products. The company is based in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The mailing address is P.O. Box 14008, Maseru 100, Lesotho and the company can be contacted by emailing to can.products@web.de

The company provides 8 jobs and at times about 30 part-time jobs when Can Products prepares for the big events such as the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD).
For further information on the WSSD click here or here 

The beginning of the technology dates back to 1993 when the inovator, Michael Hönes, felt the desire to stay in the beautiful Kingdom of Lesotho and contribute to the development of the country. Having had no funds and the spirit to preserve nature, the aims was to combine ecology and economy by  using waste especially tin/cans. Due to the firewood crises, there was and still is need to improve the efficiency of open fireplaces. At first, a way of connecting tin/cans to design a fireplace was developed with the support of the German agency for technical co-operation (GTZ). The final output was a simple, new improved stove which saves on average 33% firewood compared with an open fire and up to 60% on windy climatic conditions.
For further information on the fireplace click here , for further information on the GTZ click here
The development of other products came through the use of the fireplace. Once the food was cooked, it needs to be eated from a table while sitting on a chair. Hence these products the first ones, which were sold to neighbours and friends.

The beginning of sales started when people placed orders for stools and tables. The business was growing slowly but steadily. Faced with the cash flow fluctuation, which is common in Lesotho business environment, profit was made during some months and loss during other months. At the end of each year, the business did  survive but was with serious cash flow problems. The solution was to cut overheads, mainly rent, in order to make profit. Having realised that a lot of businesses were faced with the same problem, the idea of selling tin/can houses as workshops to small scale businesses came up. This developed a good market and since then this is the main selling product - “Tin/Can Houses”. The small company rents some undeveloped land from the Lesotho Girl Guides Association (LGGA). The office and workshops belong to the company and this keeps the land rent low. Since then, the company does not lose money during months of bad sale and up to now is still on the site of the LGGA. It is here where visitors and customers can visit the company from Mondays to Fridays. The office is also used for tourism operations of “Lesotho Tours”. For more information on Tourism click here

Office in 2000

years. In case some cans still rust, mainly the lowest tin/can lines, they are exchanged by new ones in a matter of 2 hours. Also a cheap way of plastering the tin/cans structures once the need arises, which will extend the house structures durability for decades is being developed. For the moment, an estimate of more than fifteen years from now is predicted for the paint to do the job.

The thermal insulation of tin/cans is quite good since it contains air and the weight mass is low. The thermal weak point of tin/can houses is the corrugated iron roof. The heat in summer radiates through the roof and is captured inside. The indoor heating in winter is lost through the roof as well. To improve the insulation of the roof, a second roof on top with thermal insulation material in between is added. With additional floor insulation (tin/cans or polystyrene) the inside of the house is comfortable warm in winter as well as cool in summer.

         cans as floor insulation             polystyrene as floor insulation        double roof with insulation

The collection of cans is done by many different people and at many places. Cans are bought for 1 cent each (1 US$ for 1000 cans) if there is need to pick them up or 4 cents (4 US$ for 1000 cans) if collectors deliver them washed. Due to the fact that 40 % of the working force is unemployed, there is need to earn money and the collection of freely available tin/cans is a nice extra-money earning possibility.

Obviously only tin/cans in good shape can be used for the production. After a sorting process before washing the tin/cans, the tin/cans in bad shape are send for recycling.
For further information on the re-cycling and re-use click here