# Upcycled Building Blocks PLAEX Building Systems Inc. Debuts Eco-Friendly Bricks Made from Plastic By Grace Mahas | Published 2022-01-27 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plaex-building-systems-inc References: [cbc](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/recycled-plastic-bricks-tackle-waste-1.6081018)  PLAEX Building Systems Inc., a Maritime startup, recently created a new building material made from recycled plastic. The upcycled plastic is commonly used by farmers to cover soil and caterpillar tunnels and is shredded and turned into a reusable system of interconnecting bricks and finish panels. Thanks to a closed-loop system, the company claims that PLAEX uses less energy and less water than current recycling methods. As a result, it has a smaller environmental impact. PLAEX Building Systems Inc. recently joined forces with David Wolpin, who runs a farm supply company in Bloomfield, N.B., that services the Maritimes, to create a supply chain. The company will acquire the plastic at its end-of-life (after three to five years of use) instead of having it sent to landfill. Image Credit: Dustin Bowers ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 26% | Freshness: 11% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Upcycled Building Materials:** Opportunity for other startups to create building materials using upcycled materials and to capitalize on the eco-friendly trend. - **Closed-loop Recycling:** Opportunity for companies to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices by implementing closed-loop recycling systems. - **Circular Economy:** Opportunity for companies to shift their business models towards a circular economy by incorporating upcycled or recycled materials into their production processes. ### Who This Affects Most - **Construction:** Opportunity for the construction industry to shift towards more sustainable practices by using upcycled building materials like PLAEX's bricks. - **Recycling:** Opportunity for the recycling industry to adopt closed-loop systems and work with companies like PLAEX to create more efficient and sustainable recycling methods. - **Agriculture:** Opportunity for the agriculture industry to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices like upcycling and closed-loop systems to reduce their environmental impact. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Food-Based Toy Block Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-6.md) - [Surfboard Waste Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surf-block-maui.md) - [Low-Carbon Biomaterial Bricks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cob-brick.md) - [Recycled Plastic Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bristol-plastic-factory.md) - [Eco-Certified Eggshell Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecoshell-llc.md) - [Certified Carbon-Neutral Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mega-bloks-green-town.md) - [Recycled Plastic Decor Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plastplan-design-studio.md) - [Recycling Home-Use Compactor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clear-drop-1.md) - [Recycled Plastic Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycled-plastic-tiny-home.md)