24/08/2025
A Kenyan startup is turning plastic waste into bricks that are up to seven times stronger than concrete and 30% cheaper. The company, Gjenge Makers Ltd, was founded by Nzambi Matee, a materials engineer who developed a method to transform plastic waste and sand into paving bricks, according to Freethink and Common Earth. These bricks are also lighter, more durable, and come in various colors, making them ideal for walkways, driveways, and public infrastructure.
Matee launched the company in Nairobi to tackle the city’s growing plastic pollution problem. She began prototyping bricks in her mother’s backyard and eventually scaled up to a factory that now produces over 1,500 bricks per day. The process involves shredding plastic waste, mixing it with sand, heating the blend, and pressing it into molds, all without using water or cement. The plastic used is typically non-recyclable by conventional means, giving new life to materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.
