Jenny Andrea Ramirez Oviedo
Gabriela Fernandez
Universidad Externado de Colombia
Gustavo A Yepes López
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"The ecological asphalt is an improved product from a conventional mixture of concrete that, through nanotechnology, allows us to replace the sand and gravel with rubber made of tire and plastic, generating a concrete with high productive quality," said Alexandra Reyes, co-founder.
"The ecological asphalt is elaborated under clean technologies, which are intended to minimize the environmental negative impact. The elaboration is carried out through a cold process where the mixture of the components is carried out in concrete mixers. They are poured into different molds and left in a setting process for 28 days in a warm environment until it is completely compacted; subsequently it is unmolded for the delivery of the finished product. It is important to keep in mind the following aspects of ecological asphalt: it provides benefits to the environment by decreasing the rates of plastic and rubber contamination; the ecological asphalt is a product that reduces costs in production and the price of sale to the consumer. It is a great opportunity to enter into the road construction sector because according to the standard, contractors must include in their buildings 30% of recycled products for the construction of roads and platforms. This is a multi-channel business: the ecological asphalt is a product with superior resistance than conventional product, it is malleable and can be transformed into different products, and it allows them to reach different markets such as construction companies, garden centers with the sale of pots, furniture warehouses, and road contractors," said Alexandra Reyes.
Ecologial Asphalt
The inspiration for Orcor SAS is ”the need to reduce pollution rates of all types of plastics and rubbers that are discarded in the environment, damaging the ecosystems and placing in danger the future of the new generations,” said Alexandra Reyes.
The inspiration is to generate conscience among human beings in the intention to recycle and consume water responsibly. Its idea is to create the value chain from the collection of the material. For this, they create awareness campaigns in universities, schools, residential complexes, and companies, encouraging the importance of recycling.
"With this ecological asphalt, Orcor SAS contributes to reducing the pollution rates of rubber and plastic, owing to, for each cubic meter produced, 850 kilos of waste of these materials are eliminated from the environment. It also helps to reduce the exploitation of sand quarries, which have generated large areas of deforestation, and it cooperates with the reduction costs compared to conventional products," said Alexandra Reyes.
"The ecological asphalt patent was [awarded] in August 2018 and began its commercialization in September of the same year. Despite its short operating time, sales in 2019 have increased by 2.5% in the last 2 months. Based on this, Orcor SAS hopes to continue growing in this way during the next 5 years to have sustained growth of 30%, obtain a profit margin of 35%, and to get a market share in the following manner: construction 3%, pots 15%, tables 15%, and urban furniture 20%," said Alexandra Reyes.
"The principal benefit is it decreases the rates of plastic and rubber contamination, giving a new use and extending their useful cycle so it reduces environmental damage. It is a opportunity to generate employment and local labor training because is an innovation in the construction, decoration, and real estate market for homes. In addition, it improves the living conditions of aquatic species as a result of the absence of plastic in the seas, contributes to the construction of sustainable cities, reduces the generation of infections and the start of fires caused by the bad disposition of tires, and generates awareness in the proper management of waste and the importance of recycling. Finally, the use of plastic in the asphalt mix allows the reduction of exploitation of sand quarries," said Alexandra Reyes.
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Alexandra Reyes, Co-Founder
"In Colombia, around 24 kilos of plastic are consumed per person each year, and just 17% is recycled. As far as tires, 20 to 30 million are stored in warehouses or burned, generating atmospheric emissions and waste, due to the rubber is not biodegradable. With the target to reduce the environmental damage generated by those material was born the ecological asphalt concept. This ecological asphalt is made up of 70% plastic and recycled rubber, giving flexibility and malleability. This permits a great amount of designs for the decoration in homes and urban furniture, as well as to create slabs in parks and sidewalks," said Alexandra Reyes, co-founder.