South Africa generates a staggering 122 million tonnes of solid waste annually. While most see this as a crisis, UCT Master’s student Matimba Mabonda sees the foundation of a sustainable future.
Mabonda, a chemical engineer completing his MSc at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has successfully constructed a three-bedroom pilot house in Ennerdale, Johannesburg, using raw soil and repurposed plastic and glass waste. This innovative project offers a sustainable, affordable alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar homes, aimed at addressing South Africa’s chronic housing shortage.
From Vision to Concrete (Without the Concrete)
Driven by a desire to improve housing conditions for his family—having grown up in a shack in Grasmere—Mabonda founded the startup LolaGreen.
While the initial plan involved manufacturing “lolabricks” from plastic and industrial waste, financial constraints regarding industrial machinery led Mabonda to pivot towards earth build technologies.
“Sustainable building has always been an area of interest for me,” Mabonda explained. “I thought if I could contribute to solving this crisis while keeping sustainability top of mind… that would be great.”
The Anatomy of a Sustainable Home
The construction process utilized specialized earth build techniques, which require precise analysis of soil composition to ensure structural integrity.
- Materials: More than 90% of the walls are constructed from natural soil blended with collected plastic waste.
- Efficiency: No cement or water was used in the brick manufacturing process.
- Comfort: The home offers natural climate control, remaining warm in winter and cool in summer without expensive air conditioning.
- Speed: The three-bedroom home, featuring a living space, kitchen, bathroom, and garage, was completed in less than one month.
Decarbonizing Construction and Future Goals
Mabonda’s long-term goal is to decarbonize the South African construction industry. The pilot house, which the Mabonda family has already moved into, serves as proof of concept that eco-friendly homes can match the aesthetics and comfort of traditional structures.
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Next Steps for LolaGreen:
- Certification: Mabonda is currently in discussions with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Agrement South Africa to obtain necessary certifications for non-standardized construction materials.
- Scaling Production: With a significant influx of requests for similar homes, LolaGreen is preparing to scale operations to provide cost-effective, sustainable housing solutions to the public.
