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Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Carlos Daniel González, the initiative has gained significant traction, moving from experimental production to securing large-scale public contracts. Within three years of its inception, the startup had completed 500 room extensions for municipal housing programs and signed agreements to construct 300 full-scale homes across the region. The model relies on a specialized manufacturing process that converts waste into functional infrastructure, effectively diverting material that would otherwise accumulate in local landfills.
Manufacturing Process and Sustainable Construction
The production cycle begins with the collection and sorting of various plastics, a step designed to exclude materials that could emit toxic fumes during the heating process. Once sorted, the plastic is shredded into uniform pieces and subjected to industrial ovens heated to 350 degrees Celsius. After approximately 30 minutes, the molten material is transferred to a hydraulic press, which shapes it into panels measuring 2.4 metres by 1.2 metres with a thickness of 2.5 centimetres. The facility currently produces 120 panels daily, utilizing five and a half tonnes of plastic waste.
The resulting panels are designed for longevity and thermal efficiency. According to González, a standard 40-square-metre home, which includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living area, requires 80 panels and can be constructed in seven days. The company estimates that these structures are capable of lasting up to 100 years, offering a resilient housing solution for families living in poverty. Data cited by the Unreasonable Group indicates that 64 per cent of the population in Puebla lives in poverty, a factor that motivated the development of the enterprise.
Public Partnerships and Economic Impact
EcoDom operates primarily by supplying building materials to local governments and non-governmental organizations for subsidized housing initiatives. Through these programs, eligible families can acquire a finished two-room home for approximately 5,000 Mexican pesos, or roughly $280. Municipal authorities in towns such as Huauchinango, Chiconcuautla, and Pahuatlán have utilized these panels to address local housing deficits, with several projects involving the construction of 150 homes per agreement.
Beyond its construction output, the enterprise has influenced the local economy by establishing a new supply chain for informal waste collectors. By offering higher purchase prices for plastic than traditional recycling companies—which often pay as little as 1.5 pesos per kilogram—EcoDom has effectively doubled the earnings for many independent collectors in the region. González has expressed intentions to scale the company’s operations ten-fold within the coming year, with long-term plans to export the construction model to other countries facing similar housing and waste management crises.
