Costa Rican Family's Home Built from Recycled Plastic Waste
Abarca's nine-year journey to provide her son with a permanent home is an inspiring example of perseverance and creative problem-solving. She spent years saving money before acquiring land in Lámparas, Alajuelita, but traditional construction materials proved too expensive for the family.
A collaborative project involving Habitat for Humanity Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble, Urbarium, and Ekojunto provided a solution by using recycled plastic waste to create interlocking building blocks. Approximately seven tonnes of recycled plastic were repurposed for the house, which was completed in just two months in 2018.
The project not only addressed the shortage of affordable housing but also reduced plastic pollution by converting waste materials into construction material. By combining social welfare with environmental sustainability, this initiative has set a valuable precedent for sustainable housing projects.