Andrés Felipe Arias

Colombian engineer who transformed plastic waste into affordable housing through his startup Plastika Kollektiva

Andrés Felipe Arias is a Colombian innovator whose startup Plastika Kollektiva converts ocean plastic into building materials for low-income communities. After witnessing plastic pollution in Caribbean coastal towns, Arias developed a process during his engineering studies at National University of Colombia to compress recycled PET bottles into durable construction panels. Launched in 2017, the company has built over 200 homes in regions like Tumaco, where 60% of residents lack formal housing. Each house costs $3,000 using 8 tons of plastic waste – equivalent to 20,000 bottles. Arias' designs incorporate solar panels and rainwater systems, earning recognition from UN Environment Programme. His documentary 《Plastic to Homes》 (2021) details the project's impact. Arias also co-founded Recycle América, training 5,000+ waste pickers in recycling techniques. His book 《The Plastic Revolution: Building Sustainable Futures》 outlines strategies for circular economies. Featured in National Geographic's Planet or Plastic? campaign, Arias' work inspired similar projects in Indonesia and Haiti. By 2023, his initiatives had diverted 450 tons of plastic from oceans while improving living conditions for over 1,500 families.