Meet Polycare — Circularity in The Built Environment
Revolutionizing affordable housing with sustainable polymer concrete blocks.
🙏 Thanks in advance for reading this article. It’s part of a series called Ecosystem Players where I highlight and celebrate startups, founders, and initiatives that foster the development of the tech ecosystem across emerging markets.
Welcome to another startup highlight, where I share intriguing businesses operating in unique verticals and business models.
Today, let's dive into Polycare!
Founded in 2010 by Dr. Gerhard Dust and Gunther Plötner, Polycare aims to provide affordable, durable, and comfortable housing for families in need, initially focusing on those affected by the Haiti Earthquake.
After extensive research and development, the founders discovered a groundbreaking solution: a super strong concrete they named Polyblock. This concrete could be easily produced using inexpensive local fillers like desert sand, construction demolition waste, or building rubble, along with a resin-based binder. With this innovative approach, Polycare enabled anyone to construct a home without heavy equipment or specialized skills.
At the core of Polycare's products lies the concept of circular economy. But what does that mean exactly?
Circular economy is an approach that revolves around reducing waste and utilizing resources wisely. It emphasizes reusing, recycling, and repurposing items rather than discarding them. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable system where we maximize the potential of available resources while minimizing our impact on the environment.
The Polycare Factory
In 2016, Polycare built its first home in Namibia, marking the beginning of an exciting journey across the region. Subsequently, in 2019, the company established a factory and embarked on multiple projects.
The Polycare factory specializes in manufacturing special blocks used for constructing Polycare housing. These blocks are made of polymer concrete, a blend of sand, flowable waste, and recycled PET waste. By adopting this eco-friendly solution, Polycare eliminates waste and on-site emissions. This innovative approach addresses housing challenges while promoting circularity in the construction industry, opening new doors for a greener built environment.
Polycare has developed five block configurations that can be easily assembled into any desired geometry, enabling the construction of complex buildings by hand. Notably, over 80% of the block's volume consists of insulation, providing excellent thermal protection against cold and heat.
Here's an overview of the workflow:
Design: Polycare's specialized in-house team assists customers in designing their buildings, planning the projects, and estimating costs.
Production: Once all the specifications are finalized, the Polyblocks are sent into production.
Delivery: The blocks are carefully delivered to the client's site.
Construction: The assembly process begins, resulting in a finished building, typically 40% faster than traditional construction methods.
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Reference(s):
Science Direct. (2008). Polymer Concrete. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/polymer-concrete
Polycare. (2020, September). Earth quake in Haiti leads to the foundation of Polycare. Retrieved from https://polycare.medium.com/company-foundation-polycare-in-2010-ca0fd1874d4b
Polycare. (2020, September). Inauguration of Polycare Namibia & starting of mass production. Retrieved from https://polycare.medium.com/inauguration-of-polycare-namibia-starting-of-mass-production-90d78f1e0a66