Plastic upcycling startup Kubik closes $3.34M seed to scale production in Ethiopia
Kubik, an upcycling startup operating in Kenya and Ethiopia, is leading efforts in Africa's recycling sector to address plastic waste. The company specializes in transforming hard-to-recycle plastic waste into affordable building materials such as bricks, columns, beams, and jambs. By doing so, Kubik removes 45,000 kilograms of plastic waste from landfills daily. The startup recently closed a $3.34 million seed funding round and plans to scale up production in Ethiopia, with the capacity to build over a quarter million square meters of wall surface area annually. Kubik's interlocking building materials offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional construction methods. The products are cheaper, possess chemical properties that make them safe and non-degradable, and have lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to cement-based materials. The startup aims to contribute to addressing the global affordable housing deficit while simultaneously tackling plastic waste and reducing carbon emissions. Kubik's innovative approach aligns with calls for more circular plastic usage and sustainable building practices worldwide.
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