Elsa Zaldívar - 2008 Laureate

Social activist Elsa Zaldívar has been involved for 15 years in innovative development projects for Paraguayan women and underprivileged rural populations. Loofah fibres are used to produce vegetable sponges for cosmetic use, but nearly 30 per cent of the material is left over after manufacture. Zaldívar's project gives a commercial value to this vegetable waste. Zaldívar combines plastic waste, such as polyethylene (pictured) with loofah fibres and other vegetable matter to produce tough, adaptable construction material. Zaldívar (right) and industrial engineer Pedro Padrós (left) discuss with a mechanic the production of composite panels. The automated machine consists of a recycled plastic melting unit, an extruder, a mixer, a roll mill and a drying and cutting unit. Using the automated machine developed by Pedro Padrós for Elsa Zaldívar, this worker can produce a panel 120 metres in length in just one hour. Elsa Zaldívar (centre) is building model houses, such as the one pictured here, to promote the composite panels' various uses in both rural and urban areas. Zaldívar's composite panels are waterproof. Unlike wood, the construction material traditionally used by the farmers, the panels also resist the termites that infest Paraguay. Zaldívar (right) visits a waste-sorting centre that supplies plastic material for the production of the composite panels. Her project also helps develop a local economy based on recycling plastics. Elsa Zaldívar (right) has revived loofah cultivation in Paraguay, turning it into a flourishing craft industry that provides an income to hundreds of peasant women. The cucumber-like loofah, originally from Asia, had been cultivated in Paraguay but was progressively abandoned before being rediscovered by Zaldívar in 1996. Elsa Zaldívar has developed the production of panels made of recycled plastic and vegetable waste, for use in building houses, roofing and furniture. Zaldívar's composite panels can be used to build houses - a practical solution for the housing and wood shortage affecting Paraguay's poorest communities. A worker producing panels with the machine developed with help from Zaldívar's colleague Pedro Padrós. Zaldívar visits a farming family. To improve living conditions , she has involved rural families in loofah cultivation and has initiated cooperatives to develop local crafts based on dried loofah fibres. Paraguay's forest has been reduced because of intensive agriculture and the use of lumber for construction.
Social activist Elsa Zaldívar has been involved for 15 years in innovative development projects for Paraguayan women and underprivileged rural populations.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Rapatriación, Paraguay, 2008
Social activist Elsa Zaldívar has been involved for 15 years in innovative development projects for Paraguayan women and underprivileged rural populations.

Loofah fibres are used to produce vegetable sponges for cosmetic use, but nearly 30 per cent of the material is left over after manufacture. Zaldívar's project gives a commercial value to this vegetable waste.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Loofah fibres are used to produce vegetable sponges for cosmetic use, but nearly 30 per cent of the material is left over after manufacture. Zaldívar's project gives a commercial value to this vegetable waste.

Zaldívar combines plastic waste, such as polyethylene (pictured) with loofah fibres and other vegetable matter to produce tough, adaptable construction material.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar combines plastic waste, such as polyethylene (pictured) with loofah fibres and other vegetable matter to produce tough, adaptable construction material.

Zaldívar (right) and industrial engineer Pedro Padrós (left) discuss with a mechanic the production of composite panels. The automated machine consists of a recycled plastic melting unit, an extruder, a mixer, a roll mill and a drying and cutting unit.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar (right) and industrial engineer Pedro Padrós (left) discuss with a mechanic the production of composite panels. The automated machine consists of a recycled plastic melting unit, an extruder, a mixer, a roll mill and a drying and cutting unit.

Using the automated machine developed by Pedro Padrós for Elsa Zaldívar, this worker can produce a panel 120 metres in length in just one hour.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Using the automated machine developed by Pedro Padrós for Elsa Zaldívar, this worker can produce a panel 120 metres in length in just one hour.

Elsa Zaldívar (centre) is building model houses, such as the one pictured here, to promote the composite panels' various uses in both rural and urban areas.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Elsa Zaldívar (centre) is building model houses, such as the one pictured here, to promote the composite panels' various uses in both rural and urban areas.

Zaldívar's composite panels are waterproof. Unlike wood, the construction material traditionally used by the farmers, the panels also resist the termites that infest Paraguay.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar's composite panels are waterproof. Unlike wood, the construction material traditionally used by the farmers, the panels also resist the termites that infest Paraguay.

Zaldívar (right) visits a waste-sorting centre that supplies plastic material for the production of the composite panels. Her project also helps develop a local economy based on recycling plastics.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar (right) visits a waste-sorting centre that supplies plastic material for the production of the composite panels. Her project also helps develop a local economy based on recycling plastics.

Elsa Zaldívar (right) has revived loofah cultivation in Paraguay, turning it into a flourishing craft industry that provides an income to hundreds of peasant women.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Elsa Zaldívar (right) has revived loofah cultivation in Paraguay, turning it into a flourishing craft industry that provides an income to hundreds of peasant women.

The cucumber-like loofah, originally from Asia, had been cultivated in Paraguay but was progressively abandoned before being rediscovered by Zaldívar in 1996.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Rapatriación, Paraguay, 2008
The cucumber-like loofah, originally from Asia, had been cultivated in Paraguay but was progressively abandoned before being rediscovered by Zaldívar in 1996.

Elsa Zaldívar has developed the production of panels made of recycled plastic and vegetable waste, for use in building houses, roofing and furniture.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Elsa Zaldívar has developed the production of panels made of recycled plastic and vegetable waste, for use in building houses, roofing and furniture.

Zaldívar's composite panels can be used to build houses - a practical solution for the housing and wood shortage affecting Paraguay's poorest communities.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar's composite panels can be used to build houses - a practical solution for the housing and wood shortage affecting Paraguay's poorest communities.

A worker producing panels with the machine developed with help from Zaldívar's colleague Pedro Padrós.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Asunción, Paraguay, 2008
A worker producing panels with the machine developed with help from Zaldívar's colleague Pedro Padrós.

Zaldívar visits a farming family. To improve living conditions , she has involved rural families in loofah cultivation and has initiated cooperatives to develop local crafts based on dried loofah fibres.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Rapatriación, Paraguay, 2008
Zaldívar visits a farming family. To improve living conditions , she has involved rural families in loofah cultivation and has initiated cooperatives to develop local crafts based on dried loofah fibres.

Paraguay's forest has been reduced because of intensive agriculture and the use of lumber for construction.

©Rolex Awards/Jess Hoffman

Rapatriación, Paraguay, 2008
Paraguay's forest has been reduced because of intensive agriculture and the use of lumber for construction.