On Friday 6th August 2021, the Circular Innovation Hub (CIH) held the first of a series of web events aimed at creating awareness about how to innovate for sustainability.
Circular Innovation Hub (CIH) exists to create solutions to circular economy problems through innovations and entrepreneurship programs. CIH aims to create awareness on how to foster sustainability using innovative methods as well as highlight companies currently working in the space.
Our panellists were:
Njambi – Ggenge Makers – https://gjenge.co.ke/
Alex – Acceleron – https://www.aceleronenergy.com/
Nyandia – Mokomaya – https://www.facebook.com/mokomayagoods/
Sarah – WEEE Centre – https://weeecentre.com/
During the event, the panellists covered a variety of topics like how they got started on their projects, where they find customers, challenges they face in the industry and concluded with information on how anyone looking to start innovating in the circular economy.
A few highlights from the conversation:
Njambi: Ggenge recycles plastic to make building materials. Plastic has also not been disrupted for a very long time. Challenges with Plastic: It is bulky, requires a lot of logistics to transport it, also; not all plastics can be recycled. Currently, Ggenge working on a new building block made of recycled plastic
Alex: Acceleron recycles batteries. Acceleron started 3 years ago. Currently able to recycle up to 70% of the disposed of battery collected locally. Every 2 years people need to buy batteries, Acceleron recycle Lithium batteries that can last up to 13 years! For example, they recycle your laptop battery. They also sell R&D solutions – energy storage as a service, engineering as a service etc.
Sarah: WEEE centre collects electronics from individuals and corporates. They have drop-off zones in Carrefour and Safaricom and Estate drives. Opportunities for eWaste – all over the world there is a shortage of chips, it is possible to re-use chips from laptops to make new computers. WEEE centre pushing for various strategic partnerships. WEEE centre believes in the principle of the circular economy, repair-reuse-upcycle so they do the same for old laptops, household items etc.
Nyandia: Creates beautiful upcycled glass items. A designer by profession has always been tinkering with materials, when she started working with glass, she found it is very readily available. She makes different kinds of upcycled goods from glass.
Challenges or recycling and upcycling and other policy challenges:
Glass: Specialised equipment for cutting glass into a variety is expensive and not easily accessible
Plastic: Plastic is bulky to transport
Battery: The biggest challenge is the adoption of the new technology
E-Waste: Legal challenges and individual sentiments challenge
The panellists encouraged anyone interested in innovating in the sustainability space to just start. CIH hub also plans to help connect innovators in this space to relevant networks and opportunities.
You can catch the conversation from our Facebook live here
https://web.facebook.com/102491608775274/videos/267782124725767
An opportunity to apply for posted during the discussion: https://info.ktn-global.org/p/6VC3-15T/innovative-solutions-to-circular-economy-challenges
Upcoming WEEE centre conference: https://weeecentre.com/events/the-1st-africa-sustainable-e-waste-conference-and-expo/
Note: we lost audio in the recording in minute 15, you can fast-track to minute 16 to carry on with the conversation.
Stay tuned for more updates from CIH!