Purpose & Vision

The core directive of this project is to tackle the shortage of access to decent housing that affects millions of mexicans, additionally to contributing to the reduction of the increasing levels of plastic in the sea. With the project we hope to impact the thematic axes of sustainable development and social development simultaneously. By 2030 we hope to see a significant improvement of the living conditions of thousands of Mexicans, and potentially even many other people from developing nations.

What are we?

Brikokraft is a project that seeks to redifine bottles for anyone who wants to build a better tomorrow

Why Brikokraft?

We offer a responsible way to use bottles to create the building blocks for affordable housing

Why Brikokraft?

A product that can be either manually created or produced on industrial scales

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Problem

According to CONEVAL's annual poverty report, in 2022 nearly 12 million Mexicans did not have access to good quality housing conditions, additionally to the fact that weekly consumption of microplastics in a human diet has now reached the equivalent of eating a credit card's worth of plastic



Solution

The reuse of plastic bottles as integral parts of bricks that also provide heat insulation allows low-income sectors to improve their living conditions while being ecologically responsible as a principle for the expansion of their homes. Organizations can significantly scale up this initiative.

Business Model

This entrepreneurship has a dual business model in which social projects will be free of charge. For example, if a local government were to pick up the initiative, in which the patent ecobrick model would be used to construct housing to implement a program it would be completely free of charge. However, if a construction company were to propose commercial exploitation of the patents, as the brick represents a significant cost reduction from other market brands options, this will lead to royalty charges to compensate the inventors.

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Milestones

First Building

The construction of the first building

Multi-state presence

Impacting several states

10,000,000 bottles

The first 10,000,000 bottles recycled

10,000 people helped

The first 10,000 people helped

Going global

International presence

Changemakers

I am a young person from Salamanca, Guanajuato. Over the course of 3 years, I have been researching and training myself extracurricularly on a variety of topics related to my project: Brikokraft.

I consider myself a global reformer who leads consciously, passionately, courageously, and radically humble, acompanied by 15 people who believe in the project. I am a tenacious and resilient person who has driven this initiative with individuals from 4 different states. I believe I have a great ability to mobilize and a unique capacity to empower people and to create vibrant, inclusive communities of high impact.

Changemakers

Héctor Plascencia Villanueva

Co-Founder
Project Manager
Chemical Engineering

University of Guanajuato: Full-time Researcher.
Innovation Transfer: President

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato in Salamanca, Gto. 2003-2006. National Researcher Level II, 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2027, Certified Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) IDB6x: Project Management for Development, Full-time Professor-Researcher at University of Guanajuato since 2006, President of the Innovation and Technology Committee of CLAUGTO 08/02/2017-01/03/2018, President of the Innovation Cluster (Innovation Transfer) since 01/03/2021, Intellectual Property:
Granted: 1 European Community Patent, 2 Patents in USA, 15 Patents in Mexico, 4 Utility Models in Mexico, 1 Industrial Design, 2 Trademarks in Mexico. Patents in process: 1 USA, 1 European Community, 4 in Mexico, 1 Chile, 1 Argentina, 1 Colombia. Utility Models in process: 2, 27 projects supported with funds, Technical responsible for 20 projects.

Changemakers

Héctor Plascencia Mora

Co-Founder
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Alejandro Paredes Balgañón is a Business Digital Transformation Engineer. He graduated from Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he actively participated in projects and events that enriched his experience and knowledge.

Alejandro has shown a particular passion for data analysis and visualization. His ability to transform data and create dashboards has significantly optimized decision-making and KPI monitoring in the projects he has been involved with. His continuous focus on developing new skills and learning emerging technologies has kept him at the forefront of his field.

Changemakers

Alejandro Paredes Balgañón

Data Analyst
Business Intelligence

I am a Physics Engineering student with a strong commitment to driving innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. My specialization in applied artificial intelligence fuels my passion and motivation to constantly acquire new skills in areas that fascinate me, such as data science, agrophysics, and astrophysics. My dedication lies in solving complex challenges and contributing cutting-edge and creative solutions.

My focus is on solidifying my learning across various domains, allowing me to have a holistic view of my work. I adhere to high standards of excellence and continuously seek new challenges to develop both professionally and personally.

Changemakers

Leonardo Ramírez Ramírez

Logitics and PR
Engineering physics

I am a biotechnology engineer graduated from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, passionate about developing sustainable solutions. With a strong background in biotechnology and experience in wastewater treatment projects, I have focused on implementing technologies that promote efficiency and sustainability. My goal is to use innovative technologies to create a positive impact on the environment and improve people's quality of life.

Changemakers

Mauricio Zavala Campos

Biotechnology engineer

Engineer Juan Manuel Soria Flores obtained his bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering with honors in 2021 from the University of Guanajuato.

Throughout his academic journey, Engineer Soria has received several recognitions. In 2013, he was awarded the Academic Excellence recognition by CECYTE Guanajuato Salamanca campus for his outstanding academic performance during technical high school. In 2021, he received the Academic Excellence Scholarship from the University of Guanajuato for achieving a perfect GPA during the semester from August to December 2020.

Engineer Soria has authored/co-authored 4 papers presented at international conferences and has been involved in 2 patent applications, all in the field of mechanical design. Additionally, he has collaborated on various research projects funded by different entities.

Engineer Manuel Soria completed the credits for his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Guanajuato in December 2023, achieving an excellent academic average. He is currently in the process of completing his thesis.

In January 2024, Engineer Soria was selected to participate in the Global Engineers Program at MABE TYP, where he currently works, focusing primarily on mechanical design topics.

Changemakers

Juan Manuel Soria FLores

Mechatronics Engineering
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Engineer Jonathan Uriel Posada Ramírez earned his degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Guanajuato through a thesis with honors in 2021. He is currently in the process of completing his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Design from the same university.

He has authored/co-authored 3 scientific papers presented at international conferences and holds 2 patent applications in the field of mechanical design, specializing in ball burnishing process and finite element analysis. He is a member of the Metal Forming Technology Group (MFT) research group, focusing on metal forming technologies.

During his Master's studies in 2022, Engineer Posada received recognition for academic performance merit by achieving the highest GPA in his cohort. Throughout his undergraduate studies, he participated in projects funded by research scholarships. In 2024, he conducted a research stay at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.

Changemakers

Jonathan Uriel Posada Ramírez

Mechatronics Engineering
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Engineer Manuel Prado Aranda earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Guanajuato. During his time as a student, he was involved in two projects.

He co-invented a brick-making machine and has 1 patent application pending. He collaborated on the project "DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL PARAMETERS FOR CUTTING METAL PARTS WITH PLASMA AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INDUSTRIAL RACKS PRODUCTION PROCESS."

In terms of work experience, during his years as a student, he worked at various companies including MAINS BAJIO, RELLYS AUTOMOTIVE, and PEBSA. He also completed a diploma in Computer-Aided Manufacturing at IECA.

Changemakers

Manuel Prado Aranda

Mechanical Engineering

José Armando Ríos Cervantes, an Engineering Intern, graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Guanajuato in 2023. He is currently in the process of completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the same university.

He has 1 patent application pending in the field of mechanical design and holds a diploma in Computer-Aided Manufacturing. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in projects that led to the filing of 1 patent.

Changemakers

José Armando Ríos Cervantes

Mechanical Engineering

I am a sixth-semester Chemical Engineering student at Tecnológico de Monterrey, focusing my professional training on raising awareness about environmental issues and implementing sustainable technologies that enable the efficient use of resources in processes. I am passionate about projects that support social causes and implement new solutions that add value to society.

I seek to positively influence my environment and the people I interact with by building an atmosphere of trust and respect.

Changemakers

Alan Gustavo Medina Rosales

Chemical Engineering

Engineer Luis Felipe Montiel Sánchez completed his degree in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Guanajuato by fulfilling all required credits and courses during his time at the university. Currently, he is in the process of beginning the corresponding graduation procedures through the University of Guanajuato. He has contributed to 1 patent in the Brikokraft project.

Changemakers

Luis Felipe Montiel Sánchez

Mechatronics Engineering

Education: Fifth-semester student in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Guanajuato
Notable Experience:

Participated in a course at NASA, Houston, Texas, in 2017.
Conducted welding workshops at the University of Guanajuato in 2020.
Works part-time at Sivi as a maintenance supervisor.
Skills: Welding, maintenance, teaching.
Future Outlook:Promising future in mechatronics engineering, combining theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Changemakers

Edgar Emilio García Álvarez

Mechatronics Engineering

Engineer Barrón Amézquita Luis Gerardo is currently in the process of obtaining his professional degree during the period from August to December 2024 at the University of Guanajuato, DICIS campus. He performed satisfactorily in his courses and graduated through completion of required credits and subjects under Article 72.

He completed his professional service at the Salamanca thermoelectric plant in the "Instrumentation and Control" area for 2 months. He participated as a co-inventor of the "Brikokraft Bricks" patent, contributing to the digital modeling of initial molds and conducting field research to gather material information. He also conducted tests for the first prototypes of the mold and brick mixture.

Changemakers

Luis Gerardo Barrón Amézquita

Mechatronics Engineering

Mechanical engineer focused on the development of new projects for the metal-mechanic industry, with knowledge in manufacturing processes, engineering material calculations for project development, resource coordination, and project management.

Completed his technical high school in Industrial Mechanics at CBTis 65, studied mechanical engineering at the University of Guanajuato, and worked simultaneously on project development in the family business.

He supported the design, 3D modeling, and manufacturing plans of the molding device for the "Brikokraft Ecological Brick," conducting structural and operational analysis to ensure proper functionality. Emphasis was placed on the continuous improvement of the process and equipment.

Changemakers

Christian Raúl Blas Rivera Gonzalez

Mechanical Engineering

Potential and impact metrics

sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development sustainable development

Our history

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Día Nacional EmbajadoresTec ConstruyeT

Feb 2021, Irapuato Guanajuato

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Changemaker day

Jun 2021, Guadalajara Jalisco

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Actúa 2021 National Challenge Winners

Nov 2021, Monterrey Nuevo León

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Pilot test site selection

Dec 2021, Irapuato Guanajuato

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Prototype iteration

March 2022, Salamanca Guanajuato

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Design of wooden mold V2

April 2022, Salamanca Guanajuato

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Design of wooden mold V3

May 2022, Salamanca Guanajuato

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proportioning tests

Sep 2022, Salamanca Guanajuato

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Design of metal mold

Nov 2022, Salamanca Guanajuato

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Conceptualizing a mexican technological lab

May 2023, Amsterdam Netherlands

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Fresh demoulding

May 2023, Salamanca Guanajuato

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INC Monterrey

Dec 2023, Monterrey Nuevo León

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Second client validation

Dec 2023, León Guanajuato

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First approach with government

Dec 2023, Silao Guanajuato

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Second approach with government

Dec 2023, Silao Guanajuato

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HULT Prize competition

Feb 2024, Monterrey Nuevo León

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XIGNUX Challenge competition

Apr 2024, Monterrey Nuevo León

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Actúa 2024 Award Winners

May 2024, Monterrey Nuevo León

Available technology for licencing

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Ecological brick made with recycled plastic bottles

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Ecological brick making machine

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Block placing machine with irregular geometries for wall construction