Colombian startup uses coffee waste to build low-income housing

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Among Colombia’s current social problems is the lack of decent housing for a large part of the population.

A survey conducted by the country’s population statistics center found that 35% of Colombians live within the poverty bracket, with no access to adequate living conditions.

With Woodpecker building company, the answer to this problem may lie precisely in yet another issue that needs solving in the country: the waste from coffee production, given that Colombia is one of the world’s largest producers.

The Bogota-based startup uses coffee husks to build lightweight prefabricated buildings and houses that can be used as homes or for social purposes, housing schools and other basic services.

The coffee husk is blended with recycled plastic and the result is a more sustainable building material than some conventional options. With the construction of prefabricated houses, waste from coffee farms that was destined for landfills takes on a new purpose and new constructions are quickly and easily completed.

Do-it-yourself

In addition to innovating in raw materials, Woodpecker proposes a “do-it-yourself” construction model that facilitates access to low-cost housing. “We realized there was a great need for a lightweight construction system for homes and classrooms in rural and isolated locations where traditional building systems, such as bricks, cement and concrete, can’t be used,” says Alejandro Franco, Woodpecker’s CEO.

This special wood plastic composite (WPC) material is also self-extinguishing, pest-resistant, and is built to withstand moisture, making it a safe alternative for low-income housing. The standardized plastic parts clip together on a steel frame for simplistic installation. Their large-scale production and use of recycled and waste materials allow Woodpecker tiny homes to be sold for as little as $4,500 each.

Popular solution

Given the affordable price and simple installation of the houses they manufacture, the Colombian government approached Woodpecker to assist in the rebuilding after Hurricane Iota in November 2020. The buildings provided quick shelter for people who lost their homes and could not be relocated.

“The system worked flawlessly considering there was no power supply, the ground was muddy, the airport was damaged, no food and every problem you can imagine,” the CEO said in an interview at the time.

Woodpecker’s concept of securing housing for Colombians is working successfully so far. Over 2.600 homes have already been sold and the business is expected to expand soon.

Source: Plataforma Arquitectura