News – Blog
Young entrepreneurs transform the future of plastics in Kenya
21 June 2023
The rising tide of plastic pollution has – quite simply – become a global crisis. More than 350 million metric tons of plastic waste is generated worldwide per year, and by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.
To help address this problem, we have been working with 57 aspiring entrepreneurs – within 14 teams – to develop innovative solutions in the coastal region of Mombasa, Kenya. The Mombasa Plastics Prize, which builds on the Afri-Plastics Challenge, has put young adults at the forefront of tackling the challenge of marine plastic waste, working alongside the Mombasa County Government and more established businesses across the county.
Our impact
Over the past six months, all 14 teams have worked tirelessly to develop their solutions into high-quality prototypes. The impact has been phenomenal.
Since January, we have seen:
-
0
kg of plastic collected
-
0
interviews held with the community
-
0
community sensitisation sessions
-
0
partnerships formed with the innovator teams
-
0
beach clean-ups
-
0
hours of training and coaching per innovator
Our winning teams
Last month, we announced the winners of the prize, who received over 7 million Kenya Shillings, to help take their projects to the next level.
What have we learnt?
As we reach this key milestone, it begs the question: what have we learnt throughout this process? We could write a whole blog series on this, but here are a few key take-aways…
Youth should not be underestimated
The Mombasa Plastics Prize has shown that, when given the opportunity, young people will rise to the challenge. In just four months, our 14 teams developed high-quality prototypes that show new and inventive ways to minimise plastic waste, promote recycling, and contribute to a circular economy. Our winning team – Twende Green Ecocycle – have attracted attention across Kenya and beyond, with the USAID Administrator – Samantha Power – promoting their product on her social media channel.
There is a need to involve more young people in developing solutions. In Kenya, the average age is just 20 years, and the continent average is even lower at 19 years. As bearers of the future, there is a huge opportunity for the young adults of today to promote responsible consumption and production and drive the shift towards more sustainable development.
Collaborative partnerships are key
One of the most rewarding aspects of the Mombasa Plastics Prize is the opportunity to bring experts from diverse backgrounds together to tackle this issue of marine plastic waste.
Through this prize, we’ve brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, businesses, academics and investors from Mombasa and beyond, working within a dynamic ecosystem driving collaboration and knowledge sharing.
By connecting passionate individuals and organisations, we have witnessed the exchange of ideas, cross-sector learning and the formation of partnerships that have the potential to drive significant change, well beyond the end of this prize.
Prizes have power to drive systemic change
This prize is not just a competition; it is a movement that seeks to transform the entire plastics industry in Mombasa and – we hope – to inspire others to do the same.
Through a comprehensive evaluation process and our expert judges, we not only assess the potential environmental impact of the proposed solutions but also consider their social implications and how economically sustainable they are.
We have encouraged Mombasa’s future leaders to view sustainability as a business opportunity rather than a burden, reimagining their processes and products to align with the principles of environmental stewardship. Through this collective transformation, we can drive systemic change and set new standards for the industry’s future.
What’s next?
This is not the end of the Mombasa Plastics Prize.
We are delighted that USAID have committed to fund the next phase of this project, where we will continue working with our winning teams, as well as some other highest potential teams, to help take their solutions to the next level. Watch this space!
We are also in conversations with government bodies, local innovation hubs and businesses to see how we may be able to make this an annual prize in Mombasa. Do you want to be part of making this happen?
The Mombasa Plastics Prize is a symbol of our collective dedication to creating a better world for future generations. Let us continue to inspire, collaborate, and lead the way towards a future where plastics can be managed in a way that benefits us and does minimal harm to the environment.
