144: Waste As A Building Resource with Frank Cato Lahti
In this episode, we talk to Frank Cato Lahti. He is the founder of Othalo. A company that has developed a patented system that use recycled plastic waste for construction materials to build affordable housing on an industrial scale. Born and raised in Vardø, an island in the middle of the Barents sea with the worlds richest fishing fields surrounding this little island. With a background in housebuilding as well as an officer in the army he saw a link between the world’s plastic pollution and the worlds need for affordable housing as a solution to each of these global problems. His believe have we all have an obligation to not hurt the planet and protect it for future generation as well as his believe that all is connected and that we all are as one, was the starting point for Othalo.
During this episode, we talked about the importance of housing and how his company is changing plastic from waste to a resource. We also looked at the importance of lifting up women and how that has a positive ripple effect in the communities they are working with.
Links from the episodes
Episode 036: Top Tip Thursday, Black Friday
Episode 011: Executive Director of Surge with Marita Peters
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Where can people find Othalo?
KEY TAKE AWAY
“It’s making this not a problem, but a resource.”
About the author, Mariska
Hi and welcome! My name is Mariska. I am originally from South Africa, but now call the world my home. I am an artist, designer, environmentalist, podcast host and speaker.
I started the Mama Earth Talk podcast in 2018 to share some of the things that I learned about just how easy it can be to reduce your impact on the environment. This then quickly grew into a forum that showcases the amazing things that many people are doing to make the planet better, and further into a source of hope and inspiration for many. A few of the amazing guests include Zero Waste Queen, Bea Johnson, Claude Silver, Kathryn Kellogg and zero waste chef Max La Manna.
If you do not already I urge you to follow me and my journey on social media (@designbymariska), and to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot your own waste using the handy tips I post!