Sustainable housing project in Brazil uses recycled plastic

In Carapicuíba, São Paulo, a sustainable housing project has successfully installed a 27-square-meter home constructed from approximately two tons of recycled plastic. The modular structure, known as Moradia Semente Eco Sustentável, was assembled in just 15 hours using interlocking plastic blocks developed by Fuplastic that require no mortar.

The initiative is a pilot project led by the social organization TETO Brasil in collaboration with companies such as Fuplastic, Amanco Wavin, and the NGO Biosaneamento. The project aims to address both the housing crisis for vulnerable families and the environmental issue of plastic waste. The goal is to eventually construct 1,000 such homes, with each unit repurposing two tons of plastic.

Beyond the recycled walls, the home features a roof made from discarded packaging, solar panels, and a rainwater collection system. To manage sanitation, the NGO Biosaneamento installed a wastewater treatment system consisting of a biodigester and an infiltration trench. The unit includes a living area integrated with a kitchen, a separate bedroom, and a full bathroom, complete with electrical and plumbing connections.