In Bhutan, where rising plastic consumption has increasingly strained limited waste management systems, one company is redefining how the country approaches both pollution and development. Green Roads, Bhutan’s first and only company to successfully utilize waste plastics in road construction, is demonstrating how environmental responsibility and infrastructure growth can go hand in hand.
At the heart of Green Roads’ innovation is a simple but powerful idea: what if plastic waste could become a building material?
Through its process, shredded and processed plastic waste is blended with bitumen to blacktop roads. The result is not only an eco-friendly alternative to conventional road construction, but also one that is more durable, better able to withstand weather conditions and reduce long-term maintenance needs.
But Green Roads is not just building roads; it is building a system around waste.
The company collects approximately 500 kilograms of plastic waste each day, powered by a growing network of more than 100 schools and six shredding plants across the country. This decentralized model ensures a steady supply of material while actively engaging communities, particularly young people, in waste collection and environmental stewardship.
The impact is both tangible and far-reaching. To date, Green Roads has diverted nearly 890 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills and the natural environment, repurposing it to construct over 163.5 kilometers of roads across Bhutan. In doing so, the company is not only reducing pollution but also extending the lifespan of existing landfill sites and lowering reliance on virgin materials.
Equally important is the social dimension of this work. By creating around 100 jobs across collection, processing, and construction, Green Roads is contributing to local livelihoods while strengthening a circular economy. Waste, once seen as a burden, is now part of a value chain that generates income, skills, and opportunity.
Green Roads’ model reflects a broader shift in thinking: one that sees infrastructure not just as a means of connectivity, but as a platform for environmental solutions. In a country navigating the challenges of modernization and sustainability, this approach offers a practical, scalable pathway forward.
