Meet Miguel Ferreira our third #Disruption22 winner. The practical and forward-thinking CEO of Plasblock – a company that provides an eco-friendly and durable pallet block alternative made from 100% recycled materials – is originally from Leiria, and holds a deep connection to his family and their roots.

Before starting this business, Miguel’s family had been running a ceramic factory for over five generations. It was a dying industry in a changing society, and he wanted to find a way to be more cost-effective by using most of the factory’s unused resources. This led him to develop the idea for Plasblock, a company that aims not only to increase pallet durability and performance but also to fight deforestation and landfilling.

When asked about the challenges he faced as an entrepreneur, he explained that the transition from a family-owned ceramics factory that had been struggling was incredibly difficult. They recognized that they needed to find new solutions for the business and understood that it was essential to work together to ensure a smooth transition. Plasblock fully operates within a circular economy philosophy, buying all its equipment second-hand to keep costs low.

This approach didn’t come without its set of shortcomings for Miguel, as he strived to find the balance between all factors and optimize resources. He stressed that the lives of entrepreneurs are never a straight line, but instead full of ups and downs and firmly believes that the worst phases often provide the best opportunities for growth and change. Throughout the years, the company faced many obstacles, including making costly mistakes and taking a long time to get things right. The only way to overcome this, according to him, is to make peace with the fact that there’s not a single recipe for success, and every business requires a different approach. By trial and error, he was able to figure out what worked best for his company.

He encourages fellow entrepreneurs to never cease to push forward – after all, he is living proof that with the willingness to keep moving ahead and the right attitude, a whole lot can be achieved.