Conceptos Plasticos

Area of Focus:

Waste-Free World

Geography:

Colombia

Of the 700,500 tonnes of plastic containers and packaging introduced into Colombia’s domestic market each year, only 3% is recycled. 

Conceptos Plasticos aspires to reduce the impact of plastic pollution whilst creating a positive social impact. The enterprise has so far recovered over 3,000 tonnes of plastic and has developed a 100% recycled plastic construction system (called Bricks & Blocks) which assembles homes, schools, healthcare centres and storage centres for vulnerable people. The enterprise is also lifting people out of extreme poverty, providing stable employment for over 250 individuals. 

TRANSFORM’s resources and expertise have contributed to ‘The WaY’ (Women & Young) project - an empowerment programme aimed at women heads of households and young waste collectors in the most vulnerable communities. The aim is three-fold: 1) Promote the importance of recycling among communities, 2) Dignify the work of recyclers through good labour practices and empower communities through education and new technologies, and 3) Encourage community entrepreneurship. 

With TRANSFORM’s help, Conceptos Plasticos has been able to scale its operations and increase its impact. In particular, the TRANSFORM initiative has played an important role in facilitating behaviour change towards environmental conservation within local communities.