On World Engineering Day 2025, a team of students from the University of Twente, supported by Engineers Without Borders Netherlands, captured first prize at the WFEO Hackathon with their bold idea: ManufacturingBox. Their vision was simple yet revolutionary a self-sustaining micro-factory that converts plastic waste into durable, low-cost building bricks using solar energy.

The project was born out of a dream to tackle two pressing challenges in informal settlements: the growing problem of plastic waste and the lack of affordable, safe housing. By turning discarded plastics into valuable building materials, the team sought to empower communities to build a better future brick by brick.

From Hackathon Concept to Real-World Impact

Winning the Hackathon was only the beginning. Even before the competition, the team had joined forces with Engineers Without Borders Nertherlands and Afua Opare-Baidu of TrashSmart, a Ghanaian waste management company. This partnership ensured that the idea would not remain a student exercise but would be tested in real-world conditions.

The Hackathon victory gave the project visibility and momentum. ManufacturingBox was recognized not only for its technical ingenuity but also for its alignment with humanitarian engineering principles. By addressing waste management, housing, and job creation simultaneously, the project contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, gender equality, and sustainable communities.

Building the First Bricks in Ghana

In the months following the Hackathon, team member Tirsa van der Ouw traveled to Ghana as part of her master’s graduation project. Working with low-tech, low-cost machinery, she developed a prototype production process using an oven and press combination. The result was the first recycled plastic brick a tangible proof of concept that demonstrated the viability of the idea.

Meanwhile, TrashSmart began constructing a plastic shredder, and a shipping container was installed to house the micro-factory. These steps marked a significant milestone: the transition from concept to infrastructure. The micro-factory was no longer just a design on paper but a physical space ready to produce bricks and support community development.

Collaboration and Student Exchange

Partnerships have been central to ManufacturingBox’s progress. Engineers Without Borders NL has coordinated multiple student projects, ranging from material science research to co-designing a washroom structure made from recycled plastic bricks. This washroom, to be built at a school in Kumasi, will serve as the first real-world pilot for the bricks.

Collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has also been established. Two KNUST students will travel to the Netherlands to contribute to the project, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and skills. This international collaboration underscores the project’s commitment to inclusive, cross-border engineering solutions.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Team member Geert Talsma is advancing both the production process and the brick design. In Q2 2026, he will travel to Ghana to help set up the production line and support the construction of the pilot washroom. The team’s ambition extends beyond sanitation facilities: they envision expanding to low-cost housing, using the same recycled plastic bricks to provide affordable homes.

As highlighted in their Hackathon showcase video, ManufacturingBox is designed not only to recycle waste but also to stimulate local economies and provide infrastructure solutions for underserved communities. By creating jobs, supporting waste management systems, and supplying building materials, the micro-factory model offers a holistic approach to community development.

Challenges and Opportunities

The team acknowledges that several challenges remain. More in-depth research is needed on the composition of plastics used for the bricks, their life cycle, end-of-life options, and performance in real-world conditions. Extensive testing and iterative development will be required to ensure safety and optimize the production process.

Funding is another critical need. To scale the project and construct more washrooms and eventually houses additional resources must be secured. The team is actively seeking support from partners, funders, and institutions that share their vision of sustainable, community-driven development.

A Vision for the Future

Ultimately, ManufacturingBox aims to deploy a network of micro-factories across Ghana and beyond. Each factory would serve as a hub for recycling, job creation, and construction, empowering communities to take control of their own development.

The story of ManufacturingBox is a testament to the power of student innovation, international collaboration, and humanitarian engineering. From a Hackathon concept to a prototype in Ghana, the project demonstrates how young engineers can turn ideas into impact. As the 2026 WFEO Hackathon approaches, ManufacturingBox stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when creativity, sustainability, and community empowerment come together.

Brick by brick, they are building a better future.