DIGITAL MARKETPLACE FOR USED BUILDING MATERIALS
We are rethinking construction in Ecuador,” explains Juan David Alemán Barragán. “We offer a digital marketplace where products from the construction industry – especially used building materials – can be marketed in a modern, efficient and environmentally friendly way.” “We were looking for an effective solution to reduce the carbon footprint. In our market studies, we focused on Quito and Cuenca, as this is where we see the largest number of potential users, but the platform will be available throughout Ecuador,” adds Nicolas Neuenhofer. For the two founders, Cirve, as the name suggests, is much more than just a digital marketplace. “With this project, we are focusing strongly on job creation in the construction sector and at the same time involving an informal social sector that urgently needs to play a key role. We are looking for innovative ways to balance our sustainability triangle,” adds Juan David, who grew up in Ecuador himself.
Shared passion, different cultural backgrounds
The founding duo share a passion for environmental sustainability and the desire to have a meaningful impact on it. The topics of waste management and the circular economy were the driving forces for the two to stick to their vision. Juan David and Nicolas are both environmental engineers who studied at the Technical University of Darmstadt and abroad in Spain, Italy and the United States. They both come from very different cultural backgrounds: Juan grew up in Ecuador and came to Germany for his university studies. Nicolas grew up in the USA before moving to Germany as a teenager.
Exploiting the potential of reusing building materials
“As environmental engineers, we witnessed the alarming amount of construction waste that ends up in landfills and causes significant environmental damage,” recalls Juan David. “A visit to a café in Berlin, where much of the interior decoration was made from reused building materials, ultimately inspired us to take on the challenge of creating an online marketplace for used materials as a basis for a sustainable construction industry. “As we both studied in Germany, we also came into contact with research projects that investigated the potential of reusing building materials in Germany,” adds Nicolas. “One of the biggest challenges to the widespread adoption of reused building materials here are regulatory requirements, which exist for good reasons but ultimately act as a major brake on the use of used building materials. These regulations make it considerably more difficult to implement large-scale reuse in Germany.” “In Ecuador, on the other hand, regulatory practices are more pragmatic and comprehensive and the reuse of building materials is welcomed,” explains Juan David. “This is why we are pursuing the establishment of our company in Ecuador.”
Promoting the circular economy in Ecuador as a goal
In Ecuador, the signs are good for Cirve’s success. The up-and-coming economy and rapid urban development are increasing the demand for new buildings. As construction is often associated with demolition, large quantities of construction and building material waste are currently being disposed of in landfills. “With our online marketplace, we are closing several gaps at once: We reduce the persistently high waste streams that have an impact on the environment. We offer building materials at competitive prices and thus promote the cost efficiency of construction projects. We support the circular economy and contribute to sustainability by extending the life cycle of materials, reducing waste and, of course, conserving resources.” The founding team also wants to raise awareness of community and collaboration in the construction sector. Cirve aims to connect small businesses and individuals with larger companies to promote a more sustainable and connected construction ecosystem.
Support on the way to implementing the vision
On the way to turning the vision and the Cirve concept into reality, the founding duo is receiving support from the Shaping Migration for Development (MEG) program. This program, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supports partner countries in harnessing the benefits of regular migration and the commitment of the diaspora for sustainable development. It contributes to the implementation of the GCM and is part of a comprehensive approach to migration and development. The program is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with the support of Kompass Frankfurt. The start-up center actively assisted the founding duo and provided support in particular with the development of a corporate identity and ideas for a marketing strategy. Implementation is planned for 2025, when Cirve is to be made public.
Juan David Alemán Barragán and Nicolas Neuenhofer.
