Startup Story
As the world looks to reduce CO2 emissions in order to address the growing threat of climate change, one South African business is playing its part. EcoDiesel, co-founded by Sibonelo Gamnca, is making the process of choosing biodiesel easy for customers who want to be more environmentally conscious.
LoA chatted to Sibonelo Gamnca this month to find out more.
What does your company do?
EcoDiesel is a biodiesel distribution company and aims to deliver a full 360 solution to our clients. From fuel, to the accessibility of a fuel management system that records everyone’s CO2 emissions in order to achieve our agreed SA/Paris treaty agreement. We want to make the decision of choosing biodiesel easy for customers in South Africa.
South Africa needs an alternative energy source that is efficient, recycles waste and takes care of our environment. With crude oil quickly running out and alternative energy sources years-off becoming a mainstream commodity in South Africa, another solution is needed. EcoDiesel, a women-owned company, believes it is biodiesel. It burns cleaner and cooler in engines, it is made entirely from a waste product – used vegetable oil, is biodegradable, good for the environment, and can be produced locally. The automotive industry has responded by finding manufacturing solutions to the environmental problem, whilst energy companies have passed on the costs to consumers. This makes crude-based products increasingly expensive, not to mention harmful to the environment.
Eco-diesel is focused on serving the market of small businesses and help them reduce their carbon tax footprint, not only that but also to preserve their environment against the impacts of fuel.
“We believe that we have a vital role to play in taking care of our planet for future generations. Women are nurturers, naturally and have the inborn instinct to preserve what is placed in their hands.”
What inspired you to start your company?
We believe that we have a vital role to play in taking care of our planet for future generations. Women are nurturers, naturally and have the inborn instinct to preserve what is placed in their hands, all of us in the team come from backgrounds where we have experienced what it is like to be without food, limited water and electricity or not have access to immediate transport, our own experiences have shaped our empathy. We are inspired to create opportunities for the next generation so that they may not be severely affected by the conditions of climate change.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
EcoDiesel wants to make biodiesel accessible through mini diesel stations, these mini diesel stations include tanks and dispensers and are built to send information to the cloud which calculates each clients’ diesel usage and tracks their fleet. We want to decentralize the production of biodiesel and secure our supply through diversity, creating opportunities for multiple young entrepreneurs in our communities who will produce our product.
“Eco-diesel is focused on serving the market of small businesses and help them reduce their carbon tax footprint, not only that but also to preserve their environment against the impacts of fuel.”
Tell us a little about your team
We are a team of 6 women - Michelle Geere is the CEO, Karabo Sitto looks after Operations and Finance, Zodwa Gunuza Marketing and Branding, Sibonelo Gamnca Business Strategy, Nanziwe Mzuzu, PR and Social Media, Phindokuhle Ngcani Administration and Production.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
An eagle eye vision requires tenacity and the ability to see beyond the present circumstances. Our team consists of women that have an incredible entrepreneurial spirit. Although for each one of us going into the fuel industry presented itself as a new challenge, we were joined by our shared purpose to see opportunities being created and our communities being employed because of us, as well as assisting reduce carbon emissions. We come from a background of multiple industries and that has assisted us in being able to work hard to bring this vision to life. We have been involved in a number of competitions and though we haven’t won money (funding) yet each time we come out being more confident in our vision and product.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
As mentioned above, mini diesel stations are the future for EcoDiesel. We have built a prototype already and we are excited that our smart tanks also notify us when they need to be refilled, and we contact the customer ensuring that the choice to use biodiesel is easy. Easy and effortless accessibility to EcoDiesel is our priority.
“We are inspired to create opportunities for the next generation so that they may not be severely affected by the conditions of climate change.”
“Easy and effortless accessibility to EcoDiesel is our priority.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Knowing that we are creating opportunity and helping others is what drives us to wake up every morning.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Have a vision that is bigger than you, that will wake you up each day, work in the present to bring it to life and find like-minded people who share your purpose, understand that it won’t always be easy especially in the beginning, but your persistence to it will yield results in the future. Keep showing up and keep fighting.
Contact or follow EcoDiesel
WEBSITE | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | EMAIL ecodiesel.capetown@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
We love innovators at Lionesses of Africa, particularly those women entrepreneurs who are contributing to the environment and helping in the fight to find solutions to address climate change. Sibonelo Gamnca and her team at EcoDiesel are tenacious, committed entrepreneurs who understand the importance of preserving the environment against the impacts of fossil fuels, and are contributing to finding solutions that work for Africa. This is definitely an impact driven business to watch over the months and years to come. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa