From poisoning and injuring marine life, to the ubiquitous presence of plastics in our food, to causing major life-threatening diseases, the growth of plastic waste is threatening our planet's survival. Africa’s women entrepreneurs are rising to the challenge and are building game-changing eco-businesses combating one of the great environmental challenges of our time - plastic pollution.
According to World Economic Forum figures there is an estimated 150 million tonnes of plastic in oceans today and, at current rates, we are on track to have one tonne for every three tonnes of fish by 2025 and more plastic than fish in our waters by weight by 2050. We need a global effort to eliminate single-use plastics and significantly reduce use, and improve recovery, of the rest. The damage caused by our current use and disposal of plastics makes the system unsustainable and we support the global drive for solutions. Entrepreneurs across the world are rising to the challenge and finding creative solutions to the problem. The same is happening across Africa where there is a wave of creative young women leading startups to fight the war on plastic pollution.
Meet nine of these African women entrepreneurs:
LORNA RUTTO, founder & CEO, EcoPost (Kenya)
EcoPost uses 100% recycled plastics to make aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly plastic lumber for use in applications ranging from fencing to landscaping. Theirs is one of the most environmentally conscious products on the market today.
NATALIE & KIM ELLIS, founders, The Joinery (South Africa)
The Joinery is focused on finding sustainable solutions to environmental and community issues through design and product development. They have conceptualised trail blazing fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, saving bottles from landfill and turning them into beautiful products and gifts.
HEND RIAD & MARIAM HAZEM, founders, Reform Studio (Egypt)
Reform Studio believe that design can solve stubborn problems and they started with a major issue in Egypt: plastic waste. They have developed ‘Plastex’, a new eco-friendly material made by weaving discarded plastic bags. This eco-friendly material is then used to produce furniture coverings, homeware and fashion accessories.
THATO KGATLHANYE, founder of Rethaka (South Africa)
A Repurpose schoolbag made from recycled plastic gives a child dignity by day and by night it doubles as a light to study. They have handed over 10,000 Repurpose Schoolbags to children in 6 countries on the African continent.
BRENDA KATWESIGYE, founder of Wazi Vision (Uganda)
Wazi focuses on helping everyone access quality eye care, without paying hefty sums for it. They understand that good eye sight is critical to overall health and well being – especially for children and that is why they have created affordable eye glasses that are designed and made from recycled plastic in Uganda and cost 80% less than what is currently on the market.
CHIOMA UKONU, co-Founder, Recycle Points Limited (Nigeria)
RecyclePoints is a waste recycling and social benefit venture that operates an incentive-based scheme which collects recyclable materials from post consumers and in turn rewards them with “Points” which they can accumulate and use to redeem/shop for household items offered through its iRecycle store.
JAUNITA VAN DER MERWE, co-founder, Little Green Number (South Africa)
They turn ads into bags! Each one of their bags, made from recycled plastic billboards, is funky and unique. They are passionate about creating jobs AND saving the planet. One billboard at a time!