According to Conserve Energy Future, “the garbage dumped in the ocean every year is roughly around 14 billion pounds. Plastic is the major constituent.”
With the growing number of pollutants harming our planet, it can be difficult to envision a brighter and healthier future, but certain companies around the world are changing this grim reality for the better.
These companies and organizations are taking recycled and natural materials and creating beautiful, safe and sustainable building materials that can be used in versatile ways while helping clean up our planet.
1. Plastic Houses
It sounds insane, but it works. Colombia-based company Conceptos Plásticos, led by architect Oscar Mendez, uses plastic and rubber waste in an alternative construction material to build houses for people who need them all across Colombia. These plastic houses are much cheaper to build than traditional ones and can be made in just five days with the help of four people, which means more houses go up quicker and discarded plastic gets recycled faster. Oscar’s company aims to tackle the problems of pollution and high populations in Latin America at the same time, and he’s doing a great job.
Here is a video that further demonstrates the concept:
2. Plastic Roads
In the Netherlands, Volker Wessels is working to create the world’s first plastic road made with recycled material. The road they’ve proposed will have numerous benefits in addition to helping clean up our oceans. This road is also weather resistant and unaffected by corrosion, making it virtually maintenance free. They project that this road can be built in a matter of weeks instead of months like our current roads. “Goodbye, construction and traffic jams!”
Here is a video that further demonstrates the concept:
3. Wool and Seaweed Buildings
Researchers at the Schools of Architecture in the Universities of Seville and Strathclyde have created a new building material, bricks made with wool and alginate, a natural polymer extracted from seaweed. Not only are these bricks 37% stronger than their all-clay predecessors, but they’re a non-toxic alternative as well. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Resources:
I think I would worry about toxic fumes from the plastic if I lived in a house made of it. Hopefully they have a way to fix that.
wine bottles turned in to flower vases
These are interesting concepts. I wonder how long these homes last and in certain weather conditions. Living in Michigan I would love a road without construction. It would be interesting to see how it would hold up under weight of vehicles and constant weather changes.
Those plastic bricks are so stinkin’ cool!!! And what a noble cause!
Excellent explanation. Anyone can easily comprehend since it’s simple & focused. Keep up the great work!
https://www.bestaccessdoors.com/blog/10-green-building-materials/