Jorge Páez

Colombian environmental entrepreneur turning ocean plastic into sustainable building materials

Jorge Páez is the founder of Plásticos Reciclados, a Colombian social enterprise converting ocean plastic into affordable housing materials. Since 2020, his company has collected over 10 million pounds of marine plastic from Caribbean coastlines, creating eco-bricks and tiles for low-income housing projects. Páez's patented technology reduces construction costs by 30% while providing durable housing solutions in regions like Colombia's Pacific Coast, where 40% of populations live in substandard housing. His initiative has created 150+ green jobs in coastal communities and inspired similar projects in Panama and Costa Rica. In 2022, he partnered with UN Habitat to launch the 'Blue Housing' initiative, aiming to build 5,000 sustainable homes using ocean waste by 2025. His work was highlighted at the 2023 COP28 climate summit as a model for circular economy solutions. Páez also runs Mariposa Foundation, educating 50,000+ students annually about marine conservation through interactive workshops. His innovations won the Latin American Sustainability Award in 2024 and inspired Netflix's 2025 documentary series 'Plastic to Progress', which features his community impact. Jorge's approach combines environmental protection with social equity, creating measurable change in both ecological health and human living conditions.