Modular blocks from waste plastic for fast house construction

The Conceptos Plásticos plastic modular block system allows a house to be built in five days. The material is 40 % cheaper than conventional materials, and UNICEF has already successfully built 262 classrooms for children in Côte d'Ivoire with it.

Photo: Ecoticias

Although building a house in five days sounds like an empty promise from a sales brochure, the Colombian company Conceptos Plásticos has proven otherwise. Their system of modular blocks made from waste plastic has long since moved into “practice”, as the pieces are assembled quickly and efficiently, transforming waste into walls, classrooms and shelters. Although the technology is often presented to the public as a completely new construction trend, history shows otherwise. The company was founded in 2010 with the vision of turning plastic waste into a sustainable and durable building material.

The system works by converting collected plastic into building blocks. These pieces simply snap together, much like children's favorite building blocks. The material is waterproof, durable, provides insulation, and is designed to withstand strong winds. By eliminating the need to transport heavy cement, traditional bricks, and specialized tools, labor costs are greatly reduced and construction is faster.

Speed of construction is crucial, especially in communities where waiting for a safe roof over their heads can be a serious risk. A small house, shelter or classroom can be built quickly, with fewer workers and without the usual construction noise, dust and piles of waste material.

The project also has enormous ecological value. The city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, for example, produces more than 280 metric tons of plastic waste every day, of which only about 5 percent is recycled. The factory, supported by UNICEF and Conceptos Plásticos, is designed to recycle as much as 9,600 metric tons of plastic annually that would otherwise end up in landfills or flood drains. According to UNICEF, the plastic “bricks” are 40 percent cheaper and 20 percent lighter than conventional materials.

Despite the obvious advantages and lower price, this does not mean that the system is easy to use anywhere. Local building codes, permits, fire standards and insurance conditions are what decide whether such a house will be approved or will remain only on paper. However, good ventilation, safe electrical wiring and soundproofing are still key to comfortable living, because at the end of the day, a house should offer a warm home, not just a technological innovation.

Fortunately, in Ivory Coast, this innovation is working. UNICEF has already built 262 classrooms using this system, recycling approximately 1,441 metric tons of plastic, and indirectly providing education to 13,100 children.