Elsa Zaldívar

Paraguayan social entrepreneur transforming waste into earthquake-resistant housing

Elsa Zaldívar co-founded EcoConstructora in 2003, pioneering eco-bricks made from recycled plastic and tagua fibers. Her Ashoka Fellow project created 1,200+ sustainable homes in Paraguay's Chaco region, reducing construction costs by 40% while addressing both housing shortages and plastic pollution.

The UN SDG-recognized technology combines traditional ñandutí weaving patterns with polymer science. Zaldívar's 2019 World Habitat Award winning method now influences construction in Bolivia and Argentina. Her Women Waste Warriors collective empowers 300+ female recyclers through micro-enterprises.