EcoTiles are a composite material made from recycled plastics and combined with sand and UV stabilizing pigments and are manufactured by a proprietary extrusion process that produces highly durable yet lightweight roof tiles.
TARGET USERS: Individuals, Businesses, Industry, Government
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: Polymers and Engineered Roofing Tiles replicate the look of natural clay and concrete tile, but are half the weight and twice as strong.
MORE INFORMATION: http://ecoblocksandtiles.co.ke/
THE PROBLEM
A waste system as globalized as ours means that your trash rarely stays in one place. Rather, trash from developed countries has been landing in developing countries for years, where there are vibrant, informal industries that sort and recycle the waste in often exploitative systems.
These waste pickers typically recover only high-value plastics, like those in milk jugs or water bottles. However, because soft plastic like chip bags and chocolate wrappers do not have a financial value, these networks do not have an incentive to intercept it from the environment. It is said that 26% of plastic is currently profitable to recycle. The remaining Low-value plastic (LVP) is indiscriminately dumped, often in nature.
THE SOLUTION
Ecotiles are a composite material made from carefully selected recycled plastics combined with sand and UV stabilizing pigments and are manufactured through a well-researched proprietary extrusion process to produce highly durable building materials.
Ecotiles patented manufacturing process uses temperatures exceeding 220°C, ensuring that Ecotiles can withstand extreme sunlight. Furthermore, we have done tests in The Netherlands that showed our tiles withstanding exposure to UV light and maintaining its strength over a long duration of time.
Polymers and Engineered Roofing Tiles replicate the look of natural clay and concrete tile only 2 times lighter and stronger. Ecotiles are primarily made from recycled plastics. A typical 3-bedroom house will consume at least 1.5 tons of plastics that would otherwise have ended up in the environment. These tiles are 100% recyclable at their end life, provide indirect employment opportunities to informal waste pickers who are the key suppliers for the input material. Each house provides income of about $5 to 50 informal waste pickers.
- Commercial production of the Ecotiles began in 2018.
- Each tile is priced at 100 Kenyan shillings ($1) – equivalent to the price of concrete or clay tiles.
- An average three-bed house requires 1,000 to 2,000 tiles.
- The company employs four permanent staff and supports scores of community garbage collectors by purchasing their raw material – plastic and glass waste disposed by residents.
- So far, they have turned more than 56 tonnes of plastic waste into 75,000 tiles for 30 homes and businesses.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Traditional clay and concrete tiles are alternative solutions. The tiles are more durable, lighter, and easier to transport and install than concrete or clay tiles. They are also safer for rainwater collection but are available at a similar cost.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLES
Mr. Mungai Njoroge used to work at a factory in the capital city and before his retirement he builds his house in a rural center near Thika town. He finished his roof with clay tiles. Since there was no electricity, he purchased a solar system for lighting but during installation, they broke some tiles. Things were okay until the rainy season came. The house leaked and when he bought a few tiles to fix the broken ones, he ended up breaking even more pieces. Frustrated he started looking for alternatives. He could not use concrete tiles because these were heavier and he would need to buy additional trusses. He couldn’t afford the new “clay looking” stone coated tiles since these were double the cost he had paid for his old tiles. Our eco tiles became his best fit. Similar stylish look, no need to change trusses, easy to put up, same price point and best of all they are hardy and not easy to break. At least not by stepping on them. One year later he has been our biggest fan, always referring clients to us. We now have roofing projects in different parts of the country.
