Traditional building materials can be replaced with ocean plastic
An American startup ByFusion proposes to replace concrete blocks with ByBlocks – a material created from ocean plastic. This material is safer for the environment in comparison to concrete as it generates 41% less greenhouse gas emissions.
The company has been founded in 2017. They make ByBlocks in two steps: 1) collecting plastic and 2) shredding and compacting plastic into durable blocks.
To get plastic they partner up with ocean clean-up operations to collect discarded waste that’s ended up in marine environments. For example, in the summer of 2020, the company acted as the take-off partner for Ocean Voyages Institute/Project Kaisei, who pulled over 100 tons of waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
To produce ByBlocks plastic is shredded and then superheated and fused into 40x20x20 cm blocks which weigh 10 kg. ByFusion’s patented steam-based process is used for that. This production method does not require chemicals, additives, or fillers. The resulting material is durable and does not crack or crumble like standard blocks.
Applications for the ByBlocks include retaining walls, sound walls, sheds, terracing and landscaping. The company also sells furniture products made from the recycled plastic blocks such as a planter and a coffee table set.
To have an even bigger positive impact on the environment, ByFusion has made the block-making system available to waste management companies, governments, municipalities, and environmentally conscious corporations around the world. Their idea is to partner up and license the ‘blocker’ machines.
ByBlocks are made entirely from recyclable and non-recyclable plastics. ByFusion’s goal is to recycle 100 million tons of plastic by 2030.