Startup of the Week: Ogel

• Ogel was founded by Gary Giles in South Shields. 
• The startup turns plastic waste into building materials for a range of different structures – including flood defences, garden pods and more. 
• Ogel appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2021, walking away with £50,000 for 10% equity.

Website: https://ogelworld.com/

Our Startup of the Week for this week is Ogel! Turning plastic waste into building materials for garden pods, flood defences and more. Ogel gets more out of waste items, recycling materials that can be used for a range of building possibilities.

Ogel was founded in 2017 by Gary Giles, a former accountant, who used the construction knowledge he learnt growing up from his dad, a builder, to create a less wasteful way to build walls and other building structures – Ogel now offering garden pods, flood defences, dog houses, exhibition systems and more. The startup takes waste plastic from a variety of sources, including packaging, fridge and freezer lining, flower pots, coat hangers and even the scrap material that comes off making yoghurt pots.

The plastic Ogel recycles into its products is currently sourced by brokers, however the startup are discussing future supply opportunities with big waste management companies.

 

 

Those interested in Ogel’s products can download an app to explore their range of designs and help them in deciding the right one for them. The app helps prospective customers get a feel for the designs they might go with, as well as an approximation of the cost for this and potential uses.

Once the Ogel team understands a bit more about the type of design you’re looking for, the project then undergoes a design phase where the final design ideas emerge. After this, once the customer is happy, the product is then manufactured and after this, assembled.

Ogel also appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, walking away with a deal of £50,000 in exchange for 10% equity that was secured between Tej Lalvani and Sara Davies.