A Mexican social enterprise is turning discarded plastic bottles toys and other waste into building panels for low income housing, combining waste reduction with efforts to address the country shortage of affordable homes.
EcoDom, founded by entrepreneur Carlos Daniel González in Puebla in 2013, processes about 5.5 tonnes of discarded plastic every day at its recycling facility. The waste is converted into durable panels used for walls and roofs.
Within its first three years of operations, the company had built 500 rooms through municipal housing programmes and secured contracts to construct 300 complete homes in nearby communities.
Mexico produces more than five million tonnes of plastic waste annually, while millions of people live in extreme poverty and lack access to adequate housing. González said his aim was to address both problems through a single solution.
“As a kid, I remember seeing all of the plastic and the contamination it caused, for us and for the animals,” González said.
The process begins with collecting and sorting used plastic to remove materials that could release toxic fumes when heated. The selected plastic is cut into small pieces and placed in industrial ovens heated to around 350 degrees Celsius.
After about 30 minutes, the melted material is transferred to a hydraulic press, which compresses it into solid panels measuring roughly 2.4 metres by 1.2 metres and 2.5 centimetres thick.
The Puebla facility produces around 120 panels a day. A 40 square metre home requires about 80 panels and includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, living space and a kitchen.
According to González a house made using the panels can be constructed in about seven days while using roughly two tonnes of plastic waste. He also says the material provides insulation, reduces construction costs and is designed for long term durability.
Housing projects backed by local governments
EcoDom supplies panels to local governments and non-governmental organisations involved in subsidised social housing programmes rather than operating solely as a conventional construction company.
According to information cited by Unreasonable Group, roof panels cost about 600 Mexican pesos, exterior wall panels 650 pesos and interior panels 500 pesos. Under government housing programmes, eligible low income families can receive a finished two room house for around 5,000 pesos.
The company’s first major municipal project was in Huauchinango, Puebla, where it supplied panels for 500 room extensions. Officials in Chiconcuautla later contracted EcoDom to construct 150 homes, followed by another agreement for 150 homes in Pahuatlán.
The initiative has also created a new market for informal waste collectors, who have traditionally received very low payments for recyclable plastic.
Some collectors previously earned as little as 1.5 pesos per kilogram of plastic. EcoDom introduced purchasing agreements offering higher prices, helping some independent collectors nearly double their earnings while ensuring a steady supply of material for the factory.
The arrangement allows around 5.5 tonnes of plastic to be diverted from landfills and waterways each day.
Globally, only a small share of plastic waste is recovered, while millions of tonnes enter the oceans annually, creating long term environmental risks.
González says he wants to expand production, win larger contracts across Mexico and eventually take the model to other countries facing similar challenges involving poverty, waste and inadequate housing.
“This has the potential to grow exponentially,” he said, adding that the company’s initial focus would remain on Mexico before expanding internationally.
The EcoDom model demonstrates how recycled plastic, low cost construction techniques and public housing programmes can potentially work together to address both waste management and affordable housing needs.