Plastic waste is often seen as one of the world’s most difficult environmental challenges, but Kenyan entrepreneur and materials engineer Nzambi Matee saw it as an opportunity to create something useful.
Through her company, Gjenge Makers, she transforms discarded plastic and sand into paving bricks that are stronger than concrete, offering a solution that tackles both plastic pollution and the need for affordable construction materials.
The idea grew out of a problem Matee encountered every day while living in Nairobi, where plastic waste frequently ends up on streets and in landfills. Rather than viewing the material as rubbish, she began experimenting with it.
After leaving her job in Kenya’s oil industry, she spent years testing different combinations of plastic and sand, refining the process and developing machinery capable of producing paving blocks on a large scale.
From Experimentation To Impact
Today, Gjenge Makers produces around 1,500 paving blocks a day, which are used in homes, schools and public spaces. The company has also helped create jobs for garbage collectors, women and youth groups, demonstrating how environmental solutions can generate economic opportunities at the same time.
“Plastic is a material that is misused and misunderstood,” Matee has said. “The potential is enormous, but its afterlife can be disastrous.”
International Recognition
Her work has attracted international recognition, including from the United Nations Environment Programme, which named her a Young Champion of the Earth. Beyond the awards, however, her innovation offers a practical example of how waste can be turned into a valuable resource.
As countries around the world continue to grapple with plastic pollution, Matee’s work highlights how recycled materials can be used in new ways while creating jobs and reducing waste. Her success has made Gjenge Makers one of Kenya’s most widely recognized examples of sustainable innovation.
