Local Barbados entrepreneur B’s Recycling and FUSE Caribbean have entered a partnership to combat plastic pollution. Together they will transform plastic waste into durable building materials. Plastics that previously had to be landfilled or exported can now be processed locally. The products made will be sold in local hardware stores. The aim of the collaboration is to boost the recycling sector in Barbados and contribute to Barbados’ ambition to reduce plastic pollution by 73 percent over the next 10 years. The official announcement was made during the 48th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Bridgetown Barbados, in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. 

Keep plastics on the island for recycling
Returning items for reuse or recycling is not a new practice for Barbadians. Plastic waste is currently being recycled. However, thanks to this new collaboration, the scale on which this happens can be increased and within the borders of the island. With FUSE Caribbean’s circular concept, plastic waste is directly converted into an end-product. These products are a sustainable alternative to existing building materials; no trees need to be cut down or new raw materials have to be extracted. Local production and sales also contribute to lower costs and emissions for transport. This creates local sustainable earning capacity, which also contributes to increased employment opportunities.

From waste to end-product in one concept

The FUSE concept is created by The Great Plastic Bake Off (GPBO) in The Netherlands in partnership with Caribbean retailer Kooyman. The concept consists of scalable technology (our FUSE Kitchen) for the transformation of mixed plastic waste into a product, and a portfolio of product designs that can be used to create building materials according to a specific production method.

Products available in local stores
The FUSE Kitchen at B’s Recycling will be used to make sustainable and weatherproof composite tiles. B’s Recycling is Barbados’ largest recycling facility dedicated to reducing the number of recyclable materials entering the island’s only landfill. With the support of FUSE Caribbean, B’s Recycling can diversify their activities and further implement their recycling mission. The composite tiles will soon be tangible proof of this when they are available in stores at various hardware stores on the island under the name Ekoduro.

Working together to maximize impact
Two FUSE Kitchens are already operational on the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire. There, local entrepreneurs, with the support of FUSE, make and sell Ekoduro boards from plastic waste. These islands face the same challenges as Barbados and other small island states. Lessons learned are shared between the FUSE entrepreneurs so that they can support each other and grow together. Working from a shared community vision helps to increase impact and contribute to the sustainable growth of the regional circular economy.

On the photo left to right:

H.E. Cor Hersbach, Dutch Ambassador to Barbados

Mr. Martijn Kampshoff, CEO of The Great Plastic Bake Off/FUSE Caribbean

H.E. Malgorzata Wasilewska, EU Ambassador to Barbados

H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Hon. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados

Mr. Paul Bynoe, CEO of B’s Recycling

H.E. Simone Rudder, Barbados Ambassador to the EU in Brussels

Hon. Ryan R. Straughn, M.P.