A
startup in Kenya has been standing out for its revolutionary work focused on the construction industry. It is a machine that is capable of
recycling plastic and transforming it into bricks that are stronger than traditional concrete models . Called
Gjenge Makers , the company is run by a 29-year-old Nairobi woman named
Nzambi Matee . The solution has been attracting attention, and has even produced
1,500 bricks in a single day.
The
construction industry is one of the areas with the greatest environmental impact worldwide, and is also associated with several phenomena such as
global warming and the growth of
pollution in cities , not to mention high
water consumption . Therefore, initiatives that bring smart solutions to reduce the damage caused are always very welcome. For Matee, "plastic is a misused and misunderstood material. It has enormous potential, but its afterlife could be disastrous."
Before starting her studies and opening her own business, the businesswoman worked as an engineer in the Kenyan oil industry. In 2017, she quit her job and decided to try her hand at testing paving with a plastic-sand solution. It didn't take long for him to start encouraging recycling and increasing the level of employability in his region. And it was with this purpose that his company was born. Today, the startup has
112 employees who are young, women and garbage collectors .
The machine responsible for mass production was built after the specialist identified the best combination of plastic to ensure resistance. The bricks are made in a customized way, with
different colors, sizes and shapes . They are sold for just over
$7 per square meter .
The company has so far been able to recycle more than
20 tons of plastic into paving bricks. With such positive numbers, Nzambi received the
2020 Young Champion of the Earth award, a certification recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme.
