Thanks to its innovative project, it has so far managed to recycle over 20 tons of plastic and create more than 110 jobs in Kenya
Thanks to her innovative project, she won the United Nations Young Champions of the Earth 2020 award and has so far managed to recycle more than 20 tons of plastic in Kenya.
A beautiful example of the circular economy comes to us from Kenya. Entrepreneur Nzambi Matee founded Gjenge Makers, an innovative startup based in Nairobi that seeks to reduce the severe accumulation of plastic in the African country by transforming plastic waste into alternative, sustainable, resistant and economical building materials.
© Gjenge Makers / Facebook
Matee, a graduate in materials science, was inspired in launching her business by continually stumbling upon abandoned plastic on the streets of Nairobi. The question she asked was, why not create a system to put this waste back into circulation and prevent it from ending up in the ocean floor? So after years of research and attempts, in 2018 she founded Gjenge Makers thus managing to produce bricks, paving tiles and manhole covers by mixing recycled plastic with sand. (READ also: Recy-Blocks: ecological bricks made from plastic bags)
Now the startup produces between 1.000 and 1.500 bricks of different sizes and colors daily using plastic waste that cannot be recycled. Since starting the business, it has already recycled more than 20 tons of plastic waste and plans to add another larger production line that could triple its capacity.
Gjenge Maker not only has a positive effect on the environment, it also generates a great social impact as the project has managed to create more than 110 jobs so far. Furthermore, its affordable prices allow it to offer a sustainable, resistant and economical alternative to people with less economic means and incentivize other companies in the sector to follow in its footsteps.
Approximately nine million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year and only we can stop it. Thanks Nzambi Matee for the encouragement, your example is an engine of change for all of us!
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