#PlasticBricks Save Global Environment With Resilient Infrastructure Solution

Our CEO and Chairman Marquis Cabrera interviewed the CEO of Ramtsilo Kedibone Tsiloane.

Marquis Cabrera: What is Ramtsilo and where did you get the idea from?

Kedibone Tsiloane: Ramtsilo is a small business started in 2013 by myself, Kedi, and my sister, Keke. I’ve got a finance and auditing background, and Keke’s got an engineering background. We share a background in construction and a passion for recycling, so we came up with a real-world solution to plastic waste that talks to both of those areas.

Ramtsilo started as a construction business, which is where we noticed that one of the biggest expenses in our income statement was bricks. We went on to look for formal economic player black female owed brick manufacturers in the Northern Freestate which we did not find. This is where the interest in manufacturing bricks began, we started with manually manufacturing conventional cement bricks at home however we wanted to manufacture a brick that is different, innovate and environmentally friendly. We went on to look for problems we could solve, we identified two; Plastic Pollution and Water Scarcity.

We began prototyping the innovative composite bricks in our mother's backyard in 2016 made from plastic waste together with sand and specific additives. We recycle all types of plastic which is a key benefit as for the environment because the “unrecyclable plastic” is the one that predominately finds its way into the rivers, oceans and contaminating sand.

Each PlastiBrick recycles 100 pieces of PLASTIC AND uses NO WATER in the manufacturing process.

The PlastiBricks are stronger than conventional cement bricks, use less water, last longer and are fire-retardant. They look just like a cement brick, but they’re better in all respects.

Marquis Cabrera: How did you come up with the idea?

Kedibone Tsiloane: We come from a construction background, and wanted to find a way to bring down the cost of materials. At the same time, we have a passion for reducing waste and creating a greener environment. So we came up with the idea of taking plastic out of the environment and melting it down to make a brick. We started in my mom’s backyard — thankfully, she was very patient and understanding!

Marquis Cabrera: What makes your product different?

Kedibone Tsiloane: Our brick is amazing! The big thing from a building point of view is that our plastic brick absorbs less water and has a higher compressive strength than normal bricks, which makes them not only stronger but more energy-efficient. And we are also able to use previously unrecyclable plastics, like bottle lids and sweet wrappers, in the process, which takes a lot more plastic out of the waste cycle.

Marquis Cabrera: What is the vision for the company?

Kedibone Tsiloane: Zero Waste. Now, this is a big vision!! We have committed ourselves to contribute to the reduction of Global waste.

Climate action is not the responsibility of governments or large corporations, it begins at the individual level, requiring us to change daily habits and routines keeping in mind the environment. Ensuring that we have less harmful effects on the environment in our daily lives.

By collecting waste previously in landfills and rivers to repurpose it through the manufacturing of strong ad sustainable bricks we positively contribute towards the Zero waste goal. Our daily efforts help in the reduction of plastic waste and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic waste disposed of in landfills, rivers, oceans, and land.

Marquis Cabrera: What have your biggest challenges been to date?

Kedibone Tsiloane: One of our biggest challenges has been to establish the credibility of the brick. It takes a lot of time and money to do proper testing, and get the product certified and SABS approved.

It’s also been tough to get people to take two young black women seriously in the world of construction. People tend to doubt you just by looking at you. People are starting to take us seriously as young businesswomen, but it’s been a long road to get here.

Marquis Cabrera: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

Kedibone Tsiloane: If you have an idea, just start. It’s important to start small and learn as you go. You don’t have to sit around and wait for huge funding opportunities to take action. Once you build a track record, people will start noticing you.

Marquis Cabrera: Tell us what makes you tick.

Kedibone Tsiloane: We’re passionate about recycling. Globally, we talk a lot about recycling, but we don’t take it seriously enough. We also don’t see the ways that millions of people make a living from waste. When we started the business, we met an elderly lady rummaging through a pile of waste — and she uses the income she gets from selling rubbish to feed her grandkids and afford medication. These people deserve respect and dignity, and we believe we can make a difference in their lives.