Omar Khalid
Plastic is a global pollutant, from the highest mountains to the deepest ocean trenches, and its disposal is a highly visible problem. The world produces around 359 million tons of plastic annually, and only a small proportion is recycled. However, there are innovative solutions to repurpose plastic waste into building materials, such as bricks, panels, and blocks. Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya, for example, invented a plastic brick that is twice as sturdy as concrete. These plastic building materials are strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mould, and recyclable, making them ideal for construction. By converting plastic waste into building materials, we can address plastic pollution, promote sustainability, and create cost-effective solutions for housing and infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor of plastic bricks | Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya |
| Plastic bricks made from | A mix of sand and plastics |
| Plastic bricks' performance | Twice as sturdy as concrete |
| Plastic in general | Strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mould, and recyclable |
| Plastic bricks' lifespan | For the lifespan of the building |
| Plastic bricks' cost | Approximately 5% more per block than a conventional brick |
| Plastic waste produced per year | 300-359 million tons |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bricks
Nzambi Matee, a Nairobi, Kenya-based inventor, has developed a method to turn plastic waste into bricks. These plastic bricks are made from a mix of sand and plastics, including factory waste such as plastic milk and shampoo bottles, and other waste like sandwich bags, buckets, ropes, and laundry buckets. The sand and plastic are mixed at high temperatures and then compressed into bricks. Matee's company, Gjenge Makers, produces around 1500 bricks a day, and recycles between 10 and 25 metric tonnes of plastic waste each week.
The plastic bricks are twice as sturdy as concrete and are stronger than conventional paving stones. They are also waterproof and colourful. The unique production process prevents air pockets from forming within the bricks, resulting in greater compression strength. This makes the bricks ideal for construction in areas prone to heavy force or prolonged weather exposure.
Matee, a trained mechanical engineer, was frustrated by the amount of plastic waste she saw polluting her country and wanted to create a simple, sustainable product. She initially planned to collect and sell plastic waste to other recycling companies but realized that she was collecting waste faster than these companies could uptake. So, she decided to use her engineering background to create sustainable alternative construction products.
Matee's innovation provides a use for plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans, contributing to the global problem of plastic pollution. It also promotes recycling and provides jobs in the local community. While there are concerns about the potential release of microplastics from the bricks into the soil over time, Matee's plastic bricks offer a promising solution for turning plastic waste into a hardy and reliable building material.
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Plastic building blocks
Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, with plastic pollution visible everywhere, from mountaintops to the ocean floor. The world produces a staggering 359 million tonnes of plastic annually, and the disposal of this waste occurs far too slowly to prevent harm to living beings. However, plastic has many desirable properties for construction, including strength, durability, and lightweight mouldability. As such, there is growing interest in converting plastic waste into building materials, which could provide a sustainable solution to the plastic crisis.
Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya, is one such innovator in this field, creating the plastic brick. Matee's company, Gjenge Makers, produces around 1500 bricks a day from a mix of sand and plastic and high and low-density plastics sourced from factory waste and local recyclers. The sand and plastic are combined at high temperatures and compressed into bricks, which are twice as sturdy as concrete. Matee's bricks provide a use for plastic waste that would otherwise be unrecyclable, promoting recycling and creating jobs.
Another example of plastic building blocks is PolyBrick, which offers 100% recycled plastic blocks with interlocking connectors and the option of steel reinforcement. These blocks can be used to create garden walls, picnic benches, and raised beds without the need for tools, special skills, or professional help. PolyBrick's products are manufactured in the UK, contributing to a more sustainable future.
EverBlock Systems also provides a similar product, with modular interlocking bricks that allow users to create nearly anything. These plastic building blocks offer a zero-maintenance, effort-free construction experience, transforming outdoor spaces without the traditional barriers of construction.
The use of plastic waste in construction is not yet widespread, but with increasing public concern over plastic pollution, the tide may be turning. Political will and greater environmental awareness are needed to encourage investment in plastic recycling initiatives and bring about a circular economy.
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Plastic as a substitute for concrete
Plastic waste is a highly visible global problem, with waste plastic present everywhere from mountaintops to the deepest ocean trenches. The world produces a staggering 359 million tonnes of plastic annually, and the environment cannot address its disposal fast enough to prevent harm to living beings. This has led to a consensus that plastics are an unsustainable material. However, the main issue lies not with plastic itself, but with our linear economic model of producing, consuming, and disposing of goods, which assumes endless economic growth without considering the planet's finite resources.
The good news is that plastic possesses several properties that make it ideal for construction, such as strength, durability, and lightweight mouldability. Researchers have been exploring ways to convert plastic waste into sustainable building materials, with promising initiatives targeting mixed plastic waste. For instance, students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carolyn Schaefer and Michael Ortega, have developed a technology that strengthens both concrete and plastic waste while reducing CO2 emissions. Their process involves treating plastic with harmless gamma radiation, leading to chemical rearrangements that make the plastic more rigid and stable.
Another notable innovation comes from Nairobi, Kenya, where Nzambi Matee, a materials engineer, has invented plastic bricks made from a mixture of sand and plastics. These bricks are twice as sturdy as concrete and are produced at Matee's company, Gjenge Makers, which accepts hard-to-recycle plastic waste like milk and shampoo bottles, sandwich bags, buckets, and ropes. By converting this waste into high-quality bricks, Matee's startup promotes local recycling and provides jobs while addressing plastic pollution.
While these initiatives are not yet reproducible on an industrial scale, they hold great potential for tackling the global plastic waste crisis and contributing to more sustainable construction practices.
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Using hard-to-recycle plastics
Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya, has invented a plastic brick made from plastic waste. Gjenge Makers, Matee's company, produces around 1,500 bricks a day from a mix of sand and different plastics, including hard-to-recycle plastics like plastic milk and shampoo bottles, sandwich bags, buckets, and ropes. The sand and plastic are mixed at high temperatures and then compressed into bricks, which are twice as sturdy as concrete.
Matee's innovation provides a use for factory waste and ensures it is recycled, promoting recycling in the local environment and providing jobs. The plastic bricks are also part of a more sustainable solution, as they are made from plastic that would otherwise be valued as trash and pollute the environment for hundreds of years.
Matee's work is an example of frugal innovation, which leads to substantial cost reduction, a concentration on core functionalities, and optimized performance. It also connects a community and promotes a circular economy, though there are concerns about the potential release of microplastics from the bricks into the soil over time.
While building materials made from recycled plastics are not yet widely used in the construction industry, there is increasing pressure from public opinion about plastic pollution, as well as engagement from governments and industries with the idea of a circular economy, which may lead to more investment in plastic recycling initiatives.
Other ways that hard-to-recycle plastics can be used in construction include roofing tiles, ceiling tiles, fencing, and concrete structures like sidewalks and driveways. These applications can provide the same high quality as more expensive materials while being more sustainable and cost-effective.
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Plastic building panels
Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, with the world producing around 359 million tonnes of plastic annually. However, plastic has many desirable properties for construction, including strength, durability, and lightweight mouldability. As such, there is growing interest in converting plastic waste into building materials, with several groups developing building materials made of plastic waste.
One such example is the plastic brick, invented by Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya. These bricks are made from a mix of sand and plastics, which are combined at high temperatures and then compressed. Matee's company, Gjenge Makers, produces around 1500 bricks a day, utilising plastic waste such as milk and shampoo bottles, sandwich bags, buckets, and ropes. These bricks are twice as sturdy as concrete and provide a sustainable solution for plastic waste.
Another form of plastic building material is HDPE plastic wall panels. HDPE, or High-Density Polyethylene, is a strong, flexible, and popular plastic that can be moulded into various shapes. Mainline Materials offers HDPE plastic wall panels that can be installed in a range of settings, from home garages to commercial spaces. These panels are waterproof, tear and puncture-resistant, and UV-resistant, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. They can be attached to various materials using washers and screws.
Additionally, Extrutech manufactures PVC liner panels suitable for walls and ceilings in swimming pool rooms, car washes, agricultural settings, and food processing areas. These panels are moisture-proof, rot and rust-resistant, and available in various colours. They provide an attractive, durable, and easy-to-clean finish.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mould, and recyclable – all key properties for construction materials. It is also cheap, available, and consumes much less heat or electricity than other building materials.
There are several methods to turn plastic into building materials. One way is to shred plastic objects into flakes, melt them, and reuse the resulting material. Another method is to mix sand and plastic at very high temperatures and compress them into bricks.
ByBlocks are construction-grade building materials made entirely from recycled and hard-to-recycle plastic waste. Social enterprise Conceptos Plasticos uses plastic waste to build classrooms, houses, and shelters in Colombia and Ivory Coast.
Apart from removing plastic from the environment, construction using plastic waste can be a fixed application that does not circulate back into the environment. The size of the construction industry also means that it can provide a solution for plastic waste on an industrial scale.
Building materials made from recycled plastics are not yet widely used in the construction industry. It will take political will and widespread environmental awareness to encourage more investment in plastic recycling. There are also concerns about microplastics leaching from the bricks into the soil over time.
