Building Hope

Can recycled plastics be a building block of the future? We’ve collaborated with Colombian innovators Conceptos Plásticos to leverage their development of plastic brick technology that’s reducing plastic waste—and changing the lives of kids in their community.

Coraima Olivo Caro

Educator and Dow Scholarship Recipient

Coraima has dreamed of being a teacher since she was her students’ age. She inspires kids in her community with an innovative vision of the future and the possibilities of recycling and sustainability—in a school made of recycled plastic bricks. Coraima’s leadership brings hope to her students and to her community at large. Coraima was awarded a Dow scholarship to pursue her STEM education, and she shares her passion for a better tomorrow with her fellow Colombians every day.

Isabel Cristina Gámez

Co-Founder, Conceptos Plásticos

Isabel Cristina Gámez is driven by a commitment to discovering innovative technologies that reduce plastic waste, to help both her community and the planet. She co-founded Conceptos Plásticos with Oscar Andrés Méndez to create new solutions for the plastics industry and develop a more circular global economy. Together with Dow, Isabel and her team have developed inspiring technology that creates bricks from hard-to-recycle plastics. Isabel takes pride that these bricks have built schools in Colombia, and homes, shelters and other structures around the world.

Natalia Jarava

Dow Global Citizenship

Natalia is proud to serve as a Dow global citizenship representative. Her expertise and passion helped cultivate the groundbreaking collaboration with Conceptos Plásticos on their recycled plastic brick technology. Natalia believes that true innovation always stems from solutions to real-world problems. Natalia sees great opportunity for these bricks to give back to the children and the community, while taking plastic waste out of the environment. Natalia considers Conceptos Plásticos the ideal partner and ally for Dow in efforts to advance a circular economy.

Plastic bricks for a better future

We’re working with Conceptos Plásticos to help build sustainable classrooms using self-assembling bricks made out of hard-to-recycle plastics, such as potato chip bags. These bricks are fire-retardant, naturally cooling, durable, sustainable and recyclable. Their innovative creation process produces nearly zero waste and tackles two global issues—plastic waste and a lack of adequate classrooms, homes and shelters—while creating a more circular economy.

Building a small structure - by the numbers

people

days

$5,200

up to 30% less than traditional building processes

tons of plastic waste diverted from landfills

Our commitment to reducing plastic waste

Reducing plastic waste and developing a circular economy are key building blocks of our sustainability goals. See how Dow and our collaborators are taking crucial steps to a more sustainable tomorrow.