Since 1950, more than 9 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced globally, of which only 9% is recycled, while almost a billion people live in slums. A Norwegian start-up's mission is to develop affordable housing from 100% recycled plastic.
In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the immediate need for low-cost housing is 160 million units, expected to increase to 360 million by 2050 as a result of rapid urbanization. But with today's plastic waste, more than one billion houses can be built.
In 2021, the first factory producing elements such as partitions for walls, ceilings and floors from recycled plastic will be built in Kenya. The process involves shredding plastic waste and mixing it with other elements, including non-flammable materials. Components are used to build up to four floors, with a home of 60 square metres using 8 tons of recycled plastic. A factory with one production line can produce 2,800 housing units annually.
Almost 7 out of every 10 people in the world are expected to live in urban areas by 2050. More than 90% of this growth will take place in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In the absence of effective urban planning, the consequences of this rapid urbanization will be dramatic. Lack of proper housing and growth of slums, inadequate and outdated infrastructure, escalating poverty and unemployment, and pollution and health issues, are just some of the effects. (source: ecowatch.com)
Would you live in a recycled plastic home? We do prefer natural building materials such as bamboo, wood, hemp and the like, but the amount of plastics in the world is an issue that nobody can forget.
Adopt an eco friendly lifestyle, ditch single use plastics, try our natural reusable eco friendly products, Say Yes to Life, Earth Thanks! 🌿
