Ex-Banker Turns Plastic Waste Into Building Blocks
This could make recycling profitable and cut plastic pollution—here's how.
Former investment banker Shervin Sharghy founded Hong Kong-based EcoBricks, a business turning plastic waste into concrete paving and wall blocks. He takes a practical approach to plastic recycling, first asking whether it makes financial sense before tackling the technical challenges.
According to the article, the main obstacle to recycling plastic is often economic rather than scientific: collecting, sorting, cleaning and processing waste plastic typically costs more than producing new materials from oil and gas, particularly at the small scale at which most recyclers operate. Sharghy is a finalist for the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by Sino Group and the South China Morning Post.
- EcoBricks turns plastic waste into concrete blocks for construction, addressing both pollution and housing needs.
- The main challenge is economic: recycling plastic often costs more than making new plastic, so the company focuses on profitability.
- Founder Shervin Sharghy is a finalist for a Hong Kong entrepreneurship award, highlighting the potential of green business.
Why It Matters
This could lead to more recycled materials in construction, reducing plastic waste and potentially lowering building costs.