Celebrating success: past awardee's ECOncrete revolution

Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel kneeling down on a ECOncrete tide pool with the ocean in the background.

Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ECOncrete and the 2018 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge awardee from the category of Western Europe and Other Regions. Her revolutionary company has been chosen by Financial Times as a FT Future 25 business for the Middle East region. In a special report, Financial Times focuses on companies that are breaking down barriers in their fields and contributing positively to our world.

ECOncrete is a transformative technology that was developed in order to combat the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and stronger storm surges, while concurrently supporting the ecosystems found in marine environments. ECOncrete has transformed the way we look at docks, marinas and waterfront projects by moving away from the dull gray concrete of the past. This technology not only looks better than concrete but also fortifies the marine habitat while its rough surface supports the growth of marine life.

Dr. Perkol-Finkel's support of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, her experience in the field of marine biology, and the innovation of ECOncrete has catapulted the company to get noticed more every year. Moreover, as the past awardees continue making strides in their fields, the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is here to continue to honor these remarkable women.

This article was written by WE Empower Challenge intern Jacqueline Blisse from Fresno, California.