Plastic blocks build homes quickly in Brazil
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In Porto de Areia, Brazil, Rejane Alves de Souza received the keys to a new house constructed from recycled plastic blocks.
The home, built by the NGO TETO Brasil and its partners, took only 15 hours to assemble. TETO plans to build 1,000 similar homes using this method, aiming to remove approximately two tons of plastic waste from the environment with each one. The 27-square-meter house includes space for three rooms and a bathroom, along with plumbing and electrical systems.
Fuplastic developed the interlocking plastic blocks, eliminating the need for mortar. The roof is made from recycled cartons, and the house also features solar panels and a rainwater collection system. TETO selected Rejane, a mother and grandmother who faced health challenges and lived in a precarious shack, to receive the home. They believed a stable home would improve her health and the well-being of her son, who had been bullied for their living situation.
The project addresses both housing shortages and plastic pollution in Brazilian favelas, areas particularly vulnerable to climate change. Fuplastic estimates that 2.5 tons of plastic are removed from the environment for every 50 square meters of construction.
