Ukrainians have developed artificial crushed stone from recycled plastic and CO2. A startup that could become part of the construction revolution
The startup, founded by Dmytro Kharitonenko and Yan Kormelitsyn, is called 3B Plitos. They produce artificial crushed stone from recycled plastic, which can be used in construction and even replace concrete. During the Ukrainian Investment Congress, Dmytro told dev.ua the details of how the startup was created, the underlying technology, as well as about cooperation and plans for the future.
The startup, founded by Dmytro Kharitonenko and Yan Kormelitsyn, is called 3B Plitos. They produce artificial crushed stone from recycled plastic, which can be used in construction and even replace concrete. During the Ukrainian Investment Congress, Dmytro told dev.ua the details of how the startup was created, the underlying technology, as well as about cooperation and plans for the future.
With thoughts about ecology
The idea of creating environmentally friendly building materials that can simultaneously solve the problem of environmental pollution arose from a team of young innovators led by Dmitry Kharytonenko and his friend Yan Kormelitsyn. One of the most promising areas of their work was a project to create artificial crushed stone from recycled plastic — an innovative material for construction that has the potential to change traditional approaches to waste management in the industry.
Dmytro Kharitonenko, co-founder of the startup 3B Plitos (Photo dev.ua)
«The idea came from my friend Yan, who is a developer, and I do the practical part — manufacturing and implementing building structures, such as concrete benches and garbage cans. We thought that we could use plastic to create materials that could replace crushed stone in construction,» says Dmytro.
Artificial crushed stone created by startups 3B Plitos (Photo dev.ua)
One of the most innovative aspects of their startup is the recycling of CO2, which is injected into the cavities of the artificial crushed stone. This process allows for the efficient utilization of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere during production, turning it into an important component of the material. Since artificial crushed stone has cavities inside, CO2 can fill these spaces, making the material not only environmentally friendly, but also one that actively contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
«This process is extremely important for reducing atmospheric pollution. Plastic, which usually pollutes the environment, is converted into a useful material, and in addition, CO2, which would otherwise remain in the atmosphere, is captured in our crushed stone,» explains Dmytro.
Practical benefit
Another important advantage of artificial crushed stone is the significant lightening of concrete structures. Thanks to the use of recycled plastic, which is lighter than traditional crushed stone, structures based on this material become 30% lighter. This is especially important for large building elements, such as facade panels or slabs, which reduces the overall weight and, consequently, transportation and installation costs.
«Our artificial crushed stone allows us to significantly lighten concrete structures,» adds Dmytro.
According to him, while conventional facade panels weigh several tons, using artificial crushed stone makes them much lighter. This is important when it comes to large construction projects, where the weight of materials is of great importance.
Artificial crushed stone created by startups 3B Plitos (Photo dev.ua)
A little about technology
The artificial gravel balls are currently being 3D printed as test samples. However, the team plans to move to mass production, where the balls can be stamped into molds. This approach would significantly reduce manufacturing costs and enable mass production of artificial gravel.
Dmytro Kharitonenko, co-founder of the startup 3B Plitos, and Stanislav Yurasov, CEO of dev.ua (Photo dev.ua)
The shape of the balls has been specially designed to retain the functionality of conventional crushed stone. Their structure allows for sufficient adhesion and strength, which is important for use in concrete structures. This allows them to replace traditional crushed stone while making the material lighter and more environmentally friendly.
About cooperation partners
They are currently actively collaborating with the Canadian architectural company WZMH and the German Gies, which allows them to gain additional opportunities for developing projects at the international level. In addition, Yan Kormelitsyn is a student at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, which provides him with a theoretical basis for developing innovative solutions in the field of construction.
About plans for the future
«We have already installed several concrete benches in Bila Tserkva made using recycled materials, and this experience allows us to move forward confidently. In the near future, we plan to complete testing of artificial crushed stone and present it on the market. We hope that this will be an important step towards the use of environmentally friendly building materials on a wider scale,» says Dmytro.
While artificial crushed stone is not yet a mass-produced product, the team has big plans for the future. They want the material to become affordable for construction companies and help solve environmental problems while reducing construction costs and reducing the strain on natural resources.
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