Kekeletso and Kedibone Tsiloane, two sisters from Sasolburg, own and operate Ramtsilo Bricks. Their company produces eco-bricks from recycled plastic. This 100% black female-owned business recently secured a deal with Builders Warehouse.
Their father had established a construction business in 1999, and during school holidays, the sisters would accompany him to construction sites. Through these experiences, they developed an understanding of the construction process and the business operations. Their father noticed their interest in the industry and in 2013, he registered a business for them. They started taking on construction projects.
They soon noticed that they were spending a lot of money on bricks and decided to start manually manufacturing cement bricks to save money. However, they wanted to create something innovative and unique.
The Plastic Connection
While researching, they met an elderly waste picker who explained how plastic recycling creates an income for her and her grandchildren. The sisters were passionate about recycling and wanted to make a positive impact while sticking to their expertise in construction. Inspired, the sisters decided to look into using plastic in the manufacturing of their bricks. They spent about a year developing the idea until they had a product they were satisfied with and took it for testing.
In the process of creating their plastic bricks, the founders aimed to make a practical product that would be easy for contractors to use without any additional cost. They processed the plastic in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish from conventional cement bricks. Their development process also ensured that there would be no traces of plastic in the environment even if the bricks were broken or a building was demolished. The plastic bricks have the same look and feel as cement bricks to make them marketable and structurally sound. In fact, the plastic bricks are superior in quality and strength, as they are less porous and do not crack as easily. They also require less maintenance and are energy efficient due to the insulation properties of plastic.
The company produces various sizes of bricks in compliance with the South African Bureau of Standards. The three types of bricks produced are maxi, stock, and pavers. Pavers are made with 20% plastic to ensure the product meets required strength standards. Maxi and stock bricks contain 30% plastic.
Builders Warehouse
Regarding getting their product into Builders Warehouse, the company considers it to be the highlight of their journey so far. However, it took them many years to reach this point. When Builders Warehouse first learned of the company, they were still in the startup phase and had low production capacity. Builders Warehouse agreed to work with them and grow with them, but only if their product met a certain level of quality. The company had to go through product testing, which was helpful because it allowed them to learn about testing requirements and improve their product. Having their product on the shelves of Builders Warehouse is a significant milestone, even though their capacity is still growing and they are only in a few stores. The company is working with Builders Warehouse to expand their reach as much as possible.
Job Creation
Today Ramtsilo Bricks works with approximately 50 waste pickers, providing them with direct employment opportunities in the provinces of Free State and Gauteng. Through this partnership, Ramtsilo Bricks is also able to support small businesses involved in the recycling industry. By providing employment opportunities to informal waste pickers, Ramtsilo Bricks is helping to formalise their work and provide them with a dignified livelihood. These waste pickers are crucial to the recycling industry, collecting waste and initiating an economy. Ramtsilo Bricks is proud to work with them and support their livelihood through the manufacturing of eco-bricks.
Kekeletso and Kedibone Tsiloane are blazing a bright trail into the future… one paved with PlasticBricks!