Of the 400 million tonnes of new plastic produced worldwide every year, less than 10% of it is recycled. This includes the estimated one million plastic bottles sold per minute globally, of which less than 50% are recycled, and only 7% are repurposed into new bottles. All of this output without enough collection for reuse will result in a tripling of the amount of plastic waste in our oceans over the next two decades.

Plastic production is a significant driver of climate change, and its inappropriate disposal is harming ecosystems. Plastic waste is so widespread that it has been found on the peaks of the highest mountains, the arctic, and the deepest zones of the ocean.

Fortunately, people and companies are coming up with ways to put the material to good use. One clever approach has been to turn post-consumer plastic into building materials. ByFusion is among the businesses targeting the plastic crisis in this manner. It is a Los Angeles-based startup that has developed the Blocker and the ByBlock – a means to make building blocks out of plastic waste and the blocks themselves, respectively.

ByFusion converts plastic waste into ByBlocks using the Blocker technology. As a result, people can use the high-performance building blocks to construct schools, homes, community centers – you name it. It is waterproof, durable, and insulating – thus suitable for various types of climates. In addition, it is so easy to use that you will finish your project faster than using any other construction block on the market.

Plastic isn’t the problem. The problem is that we didn’t have a good plan for its future.

All the qualities that make plastic an invaluable packaging material also make it a robust construction material, including that it is resilient, malleable, inexpensive, and insulative.

ByFuision’s Blocker system uses only compression and steam to squeeze the plastic waste into ByBlocks. Therefore, it is clean technology, generating no greenhouse gasses and zero waste (one ton of garbage makes one ton of ByBlock). In addition, they do not use any additives, chemicals, adhesives, fillers. All around, ByFusion is the sustainable choice for cleaner, greener projects, and it can be used in big or small projects – from the walls of a house to furniture or fencing.

What is especially remarkable about Blockers is that the machine can repurpose any category of plastic, even unrecyclable plastic. Plus, it doesn’t need to clean or sort it first.

Furthermore, the company can produce customizable blocks because its proprietary system is a 100% modular technology platform. However, the standard blocks they provide are 8″x8″x16″, the exact dimensions of a standard CMU (concrete) block.

The ByBlock’s surfaces are flat but not smooth. Therefore, you can apply drywall, siding, and tile to it.

The ByBlock has the same R-value as a CMU, but they are easier to work with because they weigh about 10 pounds lighter and have Lego-like protrusions on their tops and cavities in their undersides. As such, they can be directly stacked or stagger-stacked; no glue or adhesives are required. This means you save time with quicker, easier installation.

In addition, ByBlocks have two clearance holes that extend through the product, top to bottom. They serve as channels to run metal rods through (for structural reinforcement).

ByFusion advocate and sustainable builder Rob Brower said after leading a pilot project in Lihue, Kauai:

The ByBlocks went up fast and easy. When you see how the finished product looks, it’s clear that ByBlock is a great way to give plastic waste a responsible end-use. In addition, they seem to have great R-value and soundproofing qualities.

ByBlock even contributes to LEED credits. Its low emission process, minimal materials required for installation, and high rate of plastic waste diversion make it the most eco-friendly building block to pick from.

We hear about the damage plastic is doing to our planet every day. Solving the plastic waste problem is a colossal undertaking that will require more than a company’s initiative to tackle. But if one company like ByFusion can inspire many people and other companies or governments to build with recycled plastic blocks, it could make a significant impact. Looking at ByFusion’s efforts alongside all the other companies worldwide also producing eco-friendly building materials, we may stand a chance.

Michael Kujawa, ByFusion VP of Product Development who worked with Rob Brower and his team in Hawaii, said:

After we began stacking the wall and cutting ByBlock, Rob and his team’s imaginations started thinking of all the different ways they could use ByBlock. This is a typical reaction, and it’s energizing to be a part of those brainstorming sessions during the build and witness the excitement of discovery.

More people and companies need to reevaluate our relationship with plastic and develop ways to use it and reuse it sustainably. The plastic pollution crisis can’t get enough ideas like these by ByFusion. The company is committed to reshaping plastic waste’s future by giving it value as a useful and necessary product – thus eliminating its burdens on our world. Its ultimate goal is to recycle 100 million tons of plastic waste by 2030.

However, overall, building materials made from plastic waste are not prevalent in the construction industry. Therefore, the sector needs more encouragement and investment, which will take environmental awareness and political will. Although, there is hope because public opinion on the matter is growing as more people become aware of plastic’s harm to our world. Meaning there is an opening in the construction market for recycled building materials; also, plastic initiatives to replace conventional building materials will likely increase in the foreseeable future.