topic A Building idea to change the world… At a time when the world is waking up to the devastating e ect of introducing carbon into the atmosphere (one of the biggest culprits being concrete), a solution to reduce the amount of carbon from construction is ready and waiting to be scaledup. PolyCare has developed a disruptive building technology which uses polymer concrete. Its inventors believe that over time it is destined to make a signifi cant impact not only because it is greener than concrete, but also because it supports the concept of a circular economy whereby locally available materials can be used to build houses and other infrastructure to improve the lives of people and their communities. A shanty-town outside Windhoek, today’s sad reality in Namibia. Source: PolyCare PolyCare’s building blocks can be made frombuilding system which uses polymer concrete for materials such as river sand, desert sand andbuilding, which is both a greener and potentially waste from mines. There is no requirement tomore “democratic” solution since almost anyone use sharp sand or fresh water, both of which are incan build with it. In most countries, construction of short supply in many places. PolyCare was the brain-houses is dominated by a handful of players who child of Gerhard Dust and Gunther Plotner. Dr Dustcontrol the type and size of houses that are built saw the devastating impact of the Haiti earthquakeand consequently the price of these houses too. Dr on human life and the nation’s infrastructure andDust was looking to fi nd a viable solution to allow was keen to fi nd a solution. Dr Dust has workedrefugees from an earthquake to regain control of with Mr Plotner since 2010 to develop a modulartheir lives by rebuilding their own houses. However, 14 N° 5 – Septembre 2019