Banking on bricks: former investment banker builds business case for plastic recycling
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Former investment banker Shervin Sharghy has founded EcoBricks in Hong Kong, a company that transforms plastic waste into certified concrete paving and wall blocks . Sharghy, a finalist for the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, argues that the main barrier to plastic recycling is economic rather than technical, and has developed detailed financial models to prove commercial viability before tackling technical challenges . The company aims to make sustainability a win-win proposition where customers do not pay extra for environmental benefits .
Key Points
- EcoBricks manufactures fully certified concrete paving and wall blocks in Hong Kong, turning plastic waste into the world's most widely used construction material
- Shervin Sharghy, a former investment banker, founded the company after leaving the banking industry to address the global plastic waste crisis
- The company first developed detailed financial models alongside technical research to prove commercial viability before seeking seed funding for a pilot facility
- EcoBricks accepts concrete, glass, ceramics and plastic for recycling, allowing customers to purchase products made from their own waste while lowering disposal costs
- Sino Group was an early commercial customer of EcoBricks, providing validation for the business model in the construction sector
Why It Matters
EcoBricks demonstrates how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can address environmental challenges by prioritizing economic viability alongside sustainability, potentially serving as a model for other circular economy ventures in the region . By competing on cost and quality without environmental premiums, the company challenges the conventional wisdom that sustainable solutions require sacrifice, which could accelerate adoption across industries .
EcoBricks demonstrates how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can address environmental challenges by prioritizing economic viability alongside sustainability, potentially serving as a model for other circular economy ventures in the region . By competing on cost and quality without environmental premiums, the company challenges the conventional wisdom that sustainable solutions require sacrifice, which could accelerate adoption across industries .