Kenya Plastics Pact’s Post

Despite #Kenya's significant strides in recent years, such as the ban on plastic bags and single-use plastics, the country continues to grapple with the menace of plastic pollution. This pressing issue is notably pronounced along the coast, posing a grave threat to the environment and the fragile marine ecosystems. Watamu Marine Association (WMA) and EcoWorld Recycling—Kenya’s frontrunners in sustainable waste management—have pioneered a proven model for plastic waste disposal, collection, segregation, and processing. Through this activity, USAID is partnering with WMA to scale their plastic collection supply chains and advance a circular economy waste management model across Kenya’s coast. The activity will build up and expand plastics collection and recycling operations in three coastal counties (Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa); develop partnerships and a client base to boost the value of WMA’s plastic; and form a Public Limited Company to expand WMA’s business and attract international trade. These activities will divert 1080 metric tons of plastic waste from entering the #environment and create both informal and full-time jobs for women and youth. #WorldEnvironmentDay2024 #GenerationRestoration

Welcoming INSEE Ecocycle Lanka to the PLEASE community! INSEE Ecocycle from Sri Lanka was awarded an Innovation Grant (IG) to implement the project ‘Empowering Women for Circular Plastic Economy: A Sustainable Solution to Tackle Mixed Plastics Recycling Model in Sri Lanka’ This project will establish a women-led Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in the Puttalam district to efficiently separate non-plastic components from mixed plastics. The initiative will also enhance plastic waste management and recycling processes by promoting the creation of homecare packaging products made from recycled plastics. Launched in 2003, INSEE Ecocycle was the first to introduce the concept of co-processing to Sri Lanka. The inaugural co-processing 297 metric tons of tyre waste. INSEE Ecocycle is a premier waste management solutions provider for many industries in Sri Lanka. Project Partners: Implemented by: South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme Supported by: The World Bank Supported by: UNOPS #PlasticFreeSeas #SustainableSolutions #pleaseproject #srilanka #inseeecocycle ##innovations #circulareconomy

As we prepare for the Africa Waste is Wealth conference next week, where there will key discussions about the Draft East African Community (EAC) Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Bill, we urge all East Africans to add their voice to the movement. Our campaign has gained tremendous supporting collecting nearly 20,000 signatures on our petition on as well as garnering the support of legislators from all 7 EAC countries and as communities. Click here to sign the petition calling for East Africa to ban unnecessary single-use plastics! https://lnkd.in/exRWsqkp Next week, you can join the Waste is Wealth conference convened by TakaTaka Ni Mali and join crucial online sessions with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, where we will we delve into many crucial topics including the transformative legislation aimed at phasing out single-use plastics across East Africa. One of the spotlight sessions will focus on shedding light on the SUP Bill’s goals, the collaborative drafting process, and its profound impact on sustainability and the circular economy. Don’t miss your chance to hear from thought leaders, engage with key stakeholders, and contribute to the dialogue on building a sustainable, plastic-free future for our region. Register today:  https://lnkd.in/dcJA2Jy8 Remember, we hold an incredible positive power when we join forces to take action which is why we’re calling on YOU to raise your voice and tell our leaders we’re ready for a cleaner, greener and healthier #PlasticFreeEastAfrica as a leading example for the world. The SMEP Programme #endsingleuse #BeatPlasticPollution #PlasticRevolution #PlasticTrade #PlasticPollution #EastAfrica #ALNimpact #ALNKenya #GlobalBusinessRules #BusinessNeedsGlobalRules #PlasticsTreaty #INC5 #Sustainability #GlobalPlasticsTreaty #WasteManagement #SustainableBusiness #WasteisWealth #AfricaWasteisWealth #AWWSII #AWWS2024 #EACSUPBill

🌍 Innovating Plastic Recycling: Nzambi Matee's Solution Nzambi Matee, the founder of Gjenge_Makers in Kenya, is making strides in tackling plastic waste. Using her background in material science and engineering, she converts discarded plastics into durable building materials. Gjenge Makers recycles between 10 and 25 metric tones of plastic waste weekly, mixing it with sand to produce paving bricks. This initiative addresses plastic waste and aids infrastructure development, like building roads that help children get to school on time. Nzambi underscores the significant role of plastic across industries and the need to rethink its lifecycle, especially single-use plastics. Her work demonstrates a practical solution to a global issue, inspiring change and promoting sustainable practices. Supporting such initiatives can lead to a cleaner, greener future. 🌿 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dhJy6hHq #sustainability #innovation #PlasticRecycling #GreenBuilding #kenya #ForNature

Updates from the The Fresh Produce Impact Hub (FRESHPPACT) who hosted a workshop in Accra last week to address the question of policy and standards adjustments that would be required to support the local production, commercialisation and distribution of plastic alternative products in Ghana.  The workshop was led by  Dr Ebenezer Laryea of the University of Northampton, drawing over 60 attendees, together representing private and public sector and standards setting bodies.  The team will continue to work with stakeholders to develop a roadmap for Ghana to have effective policies in place which support the local production, commercialisation and distribution of plastic alternative products for the country. We are confident that this work will also hold significant findings and learnings for other countries in the #globalsouth. To find out more about the SMEP-funded FRESHPPACT project, follow the link https://lnkd.in/dvFXjud8 FRESHPPACT is a consortium with members including Blue Skies, Waitrose & Partners, HPW Fresh and Dry, and Primafruit and is led by the University of Northampton. The Hub provides a platform for business and industry consortia to identify, evaluate and pilot solutions to sustainability challenges in the sector, primarily focusing on single-use plastic packaging. Currently the Hub is piloting alternative solutions for plastic agricultural mulch and single use plastic packaging used in the fresh produce industry. #plasticspollution #solutionsforsingleuseplastics Dr. Oluwaseyi Omoloso Glen Wilson Alexa May von Geusau Simon Derrick Lana Mo Fleur de Wit

Following on from our Papacks partnership announcement last week, this is why we are so passionate about manufacturing. According to the National Plastics Plan developed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (National Plastics Plan summary - DCCEEW), Australia uses around 70 billion pieces of soft “scrunchable” plastics, including food wrappers, each year. Australians used 3.4 million tonnes of plastics in 2018-2019. One million tonnes of Australia’s annual plastic consumption is single-use plastic. 84% of plastic is sent to landfill and only 13% is recycled. Every year in Australia, approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaks into the marine environment. A global issue Our use of plastic is increasing and across the world will double by 2040. By 2050, it is estimated that plastic in the oceans will outweigh fish. Together with Papacks, Wandarra can now offer sustainable packing from moulded fibre to Australian food and beverage manufacturers, providing genuine circular economy solutions. https://lnkd.in/ge5Cw6ez #circulareconomy #mouldedfibre #industrialhemp

On this #WolrdEnvironmentDay, see the work that USAID is doing with the private sector to mitigate the effects of plastic pollution.

🌏 Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste Imports: Malaysia’s Ongoing Battle 🌏 Malaysia is tackling the issue of plastic waste imports from Europe, despite a ban. These imports harm the environment and public health. 🔹 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: Plastic waste damages ecosystems and biodiversity. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀: Toxic substances from waste harm local populations. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: International collaboration is essential. Softech360 is committed to sustainable practices that respect people and the planet. Let’s support Malaysia’s vision for a cleaner, healthier future. 🌿 #Softech360 #Sustainability #PlasticWaste #Malaysia #ESG

♻ ON A MISSION TO RESTORE OUR LAND ♻ Coastal communities in Asia and Africa produce a disproportionate amount of plastic waste due to high population densities. #Kenya produces less plastic waste than other countries in Africa, but 92% of plastic waste is mismanaged and many areas lack collection services. Kenyan firm T3 Plastics is however working to change the narrative. T3 Plastics achieves its mission by recycling approximately two million PET plastic bottles per day through its collection model, which consists of 128 collection points. Through its partnership with USAID Kenya East Africa mission, T3 Plastics is working to sustainably increase the amount of PET plastic collected for recycling in Kenya, thereby creating direct impacts on job creation, plastic pollution, and poverty. To amplify impact and optimize resources, the company’s growth strategy involves establishing collection points across Kenya and “unlocking the value of plastic waste” to multiply their impact by more than five times its current level of operations. #GenerationRestoration #WorldEnvironmentDay #WED2024 Alex Kimani Gurpreet Kenth Ikreet Singh Kenth

Challenges Ahead for the plastic recycling industry🚨 As a committed plastic recycling company, We at Dawn To Glow International Ltd are dedicated to driving sustainable change in Kenya. However, recent amendments affecting the manufacturing sector have presented significant obstacles. The removal of VAT exemptions for plant, machinery, and equipment used in the construction of plastic recycling plants poses a substantial financial burden. This policy shift not only increases our operational costs but also threatens to slow down our expansion efforts. Despite these challenges, we remain resolute in our mission to reduce plastic wastes in our environment We call upon industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the community to have a discussion that will assist plastic recycling companies in their expansions projects that will positively impact the environment. #plasticrecycling #greenfuture #sustainability KEPRO Kenya PAKPRO Kenya Kenya Association of Manufacturers MTI Investment African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), Kenya Chapter Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH ANDE East Africa GrowthAfrica Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)