Dubai is set to witness a sustainable building revolution, thanks to Norwegian startup Othalo, which transforms plastic waste into affordable, durable building materials. Frank Cato Lahti, founder of Othalo, won Dubai Holding’s global sustainability challenge, Innovate for Tomorrow 2024, with his pioneering project, Upcycling Plastic into Homes.
The initiative marks a milestone in Dubai’s sustainability drive, aligning with its ambitions to champion circular economy practices and green innovation.
‘Stronger Than Concrete’
The win came with a Dh50,000 prize, alongside proof-of-concept funding from Dubai Holding. As part of the pilot, Othalo is constructing a first-of-its-kind, multipurpose education hub entirely from recycled plastic at The Green Planet Dubai – an initiative expected to debut in the coming months.
Frank Cato Lahti, founder of Othalo said:
“We are in the final stages of creating the first-ever multipurpose education hub at the Green Planet Dubai, built entirely from upcycled plastic using our patented technology.” Our technology can currently transform 75 per cent of all plastic types into a material more than seven times stronger than concrete. Our next patents will allow Othalo to utilise close to 100 per cent of all plastics. We are excited for the public to witness firsthand how waste can be transformed into a high-value resource.”
From Concept to Carbon-Negative Construction
Since clinching the Innovate for Tomorrow title, Othalo has scaled rapidly. Lathi said:
“The programme brought our solution to Dubai for the first time. We went from being passionate about our concept to creating this exceptional carbon-negative building in the UAE that can serve as validation of our capabilities.”
This pilot project exemplifies Dubai’s role as a global hub for sustainability innovation and provides a blueprint for transforming plastic waste into lasting, functional spaces that serve communities.
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