Miguel Ángel López

Colombian inventor transforming plastic waste into affordable housing

Miguel Ángel López pioneered eco-construction techniques using recycled plastics, building over 3,000 homes in Colombia since 2020. His company Plástico Hogar converts ocean waste into durable building materials through a patented process featured in Time Magazine. The 2022 documentary "Plastic to Pride" (available on Vimeo) follows his work in coastal communities.

López's 2023 invention - solar-powered plastic recyclers - are now deployed in 12 Caribbean nations through UN partnerships. His 2024 TED Talk "Waste into Wonder" highlighted his vision of zero-waste cities. Current projects include floating schools in flooded regions and disaster-resistant housing prototypes for hurricane zones.