Mombasa Plastics Prize Archives | The East African Business Times

In an ambitious move to combat the unrelenting issue of marine plastic waste, the Mombasa Plastics Prize Incubator (MPP), a flagship initiative funded by USAID and delivered by Challenge Works, has been working with nine youth-led businesses to develop their innovative prototypes into sustainable enterprises, promoting green entrepreneurship within the County.

As Mombasa joins the world in marking International Plastic Free Day on May 25th, MPP is proud to spotlight the achievements of these enterprises at an event themed ‘MPP Incubator Enterprise Showcase: The Evolution,‘ which celebrates the conclusion of an intensive nine-month incubation journey.

It is estimated that approximately 120 metric tons of plastic waste are generated daily in Mombasa County. Since October 2023, nine promising start-ups from the Mombasa Plastics Prize have received training to nurture essential skills to launch green businesses that will help combat the County’s pervasive plastic waste issue.

Anna Ghnouly, from USAID Kenya’s Environment Office, commented: “USAID’s commitment to initiatives like the Mombasa Plastics Prize reflects its dedication to fostering sustainable development and empowering future generations. It underscores the agency’s recognition of the transformative power of community-driven action in addressing complex global challenges. USAID’s partnership with Kenya is driving positive environmental change. Our investment of over $2 million has helped nearly double the amount of plastic collected and recycled nationwide over the past ten years.”

Since the inception of MMP, the nine enterprises (listed below) have set a benchmark for sustainable development in Mombasa and beyond; cumulatively collecting over 23 tonnes of waste and creating a pipeline of 545 green jobs.

● Capapo Solutions produces sustainable building materials stronger than concrete from recycled plastic, such as Eco-poles, cabro blocks and panels. Partnerships with local schools to secure raw materials is expected to result in upcycling up to 1.3 tonnes of plastic waste.

● Clean Tech Collectors is leveraging technology to enhance waste management efficiency, notably through a pioneering app and providing collectors with essential tools and training.

● Eco-Prints Generation is pioneering the production of eco-friendly 3D printer filaments from recycled plastics, educating 400 students on recycling practices, and has collected over 200 kg of plastic in efforts to curb marine pollution.

● Furies Enterprise is raising awareness about marine plastic waste with its unique board game, Bahari Ya Ninja, having sold over 85 games and focusing on creating employment opportunities — particularly for women.

● Oceania Pacesetter is creatively addressing marine pollution by repurposing over 200 kg of plastics into artistic and functional items, alongside active community engagement on the issue.

● Plas-Tech is at the forefront of innovation by converting plastic waste into clean cooking gas, with plans for expansion and technological advancements after successfully collecting over 300 kg of plastic.

● Plastic Taka Creatives has repurposed 5 tonnes of plastic into eco-friendly yarns and stylish baskets, targeting to generate over 500 jobs each year through a novel buyback recycling system.

● Rafiki Peps is refining waste management with a focus on community education and segregated collection systems, enhancing efficiency through partnerships with local entities.

● Twende Green Ecocycle is transforming over 2.3 tonnes of oceanic plastic into high-quality,

customizable furniture and aims to create 30 jobs within the next five years.

To celebrate this incredible journey, Deputy Governor H.E. Francis Foleni Thoya, said: “The transformative outcomes we are witnessing today are a testament to the hard work and innovation of the youth in Mombasa. Their commitment to green entrepreneurship alleviates unemployment and is a big leap towards shaping a sustainable future. The Mombasa County is looking forward to building on the legacy of the Mombasa Plastics Prize through supporting future related initiatives”.

In addition to tackling marine plastic pollution, the MPP Incubator serves as a call to action to continue supporting local initiatives creating and supporting green jobs. This will aid in addressing the issue of youth unemployment, as well as protecting the environment. According to a recent study by ANDE, youth unemployment remains a critical global issue. However, environmentally friendly ventures represent untapped market potential, valued at a staggering $122.7 billion across Kenya.

The weeks leading up to the celebration saw several key activities, including Zero Waste Fest, and the Green Jobs Summit — all thanks to collaborative efforts by the MPP Incubator enterprises, Government entities, ecosystem players and the local community.

To date, the MPP Incubator has been supported through a multi-sectoral partnership approach, funded by USAID, supported by the Mombasa County Government and the Exploratory Programs and Innovation Competitions team in USAID, and delivered by Challenge Works, Close the Gap, Swahilipot Hub, Proportion Global and Brand Spark PR.

Looking ahead, the Mombasa County Government, in collaboration with a group of Kenya-based innovation experts, is looking to build on the momentum of the program and inspire a new generation of young entrepreneurs. Please get in touch if you would like to be part of this movement.

The Mombasa Plastics Prize, with the backing of USAID and the Government of Canada, and run by Challenge Works, aims to inspire young innovators to tackle marine plastic waste within the county.

The goal of the Mombasa Plastics Prize is to raise awareness of the problem of plastics in the ocean and to support innovations. The prize so far has 60 innovators whose ideas have been selected to tackle marine plastic pollution along the coastline of Mombasa County.

Innovators are aged 18-25, amongst whom finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams to win over KES 7 million of cash prizes. The first-place team will take home KES 3.5 million.

Mombasa Plastics Prize is aimed at creating awareness and initiatives that seek to reduce marine plastics mismanagement bearing the research that points to a steadily increasing pollution of the ocean.

Based on a recent study published in the journal Science in 2020 it’s estimated that there is an equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic dumped into the ocean each minute. This figure could triple to nearly 29 million metric tonnes by 2040 if current production and consumption remain unchecked.

Emphasizing the resolutions from the recently concluded United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA 5.2,) where the world’s ministers for the environment agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with the mandate to forge an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

Delivered by Challenge Works, and supported by USAID and Global Affairs Canada, the prize builds on the work of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, which aims to reduce marine plastics in sub-Saharan African countries by developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement.

“Our experience with the Afri-Plastics Challenge, a similar initiative as Mombasa Plastics Prize, that has been running in the past year, has given us unique insights and unearthed creative ways of working with local communities to tackle plastic waste,” said Tris Dyson, Managing Director at Challenge Works.

Further stating that learnings from the Afri-Plastics Challenge demonstrate that the relationship between plastic waste usage and human behavior is complex; however, when innovations are paired with engagement strategies such as nudges, gamification, incentives, and storytelling, as well as understanding the role that women and girls play across the value chain, behavior change is triggered.

According to H.E. Francis Foleni Thoya Deputy Governor and CEC for Environment and Solid Waste Management, the youth are a critical cog in the wheel of progress toward marine plastics elimination and we laud this Mombasa Plastics Prize initiative which seeks to engage them in solving the challenge at a community level.

“Like other growing urban areas, plastic pollution in Mombasa is a huge challenge. Through the Mombasa County Solid Waste Management Act, which advocates for the reduction, recovery, and recycling of waste, the County Government is in the process of implementing policies to regulate waste management,” said Mr. Foleni Thoya.

The USAID Kenya and East Africa Deputy Mission Director Sheila Roquitte emphasized the urgency of reversing the tide of marine plastic pollution that has acclaimed recognition as a global challenge.

“This not only requires but also calls for collective action. We are pleased to support efforts to spur Mombasa’s young people to take the lead in innovative solutions to prevent millions of tons of plastic from ending up in our oceans every year,” added Sheila Roquitte.

The Director of Environment at Global Affairs Canada, Tom Bui, lauded the Mombasa Plastics Prize initiative as he offered Canadian Government’s willingness to associate in making it a success.

“The Canadian Government is proud to be part of an initiative committed to finding innovative solutions that promote the circular plastic economy, while simultaneously improving the social economic standing of women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the solutions may vary, policy solutions, increased awareness, and improved design among others, are critical to changing behavior and better managing plastic waste,” said Mr. Tom Bui.

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