African entrepreneurs are coming up with innovative solutions to plastic pollution. They are turning the plastic into bricks for houses (pictured), textiles for designers, and cooking fuel.
These innovations are celebrated by the Afri-Plastic ChallengeThis week,, announced its shortlist. The prize was established to support entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa who are trying to reduce plastic pollution.
In the running for the £1m prize is a Nigerian project that turns plastic waste into designer textiles; a buy-back scheme in Kenya that helps women earn money through plastic recycling; and a Rwandan project that turns plastic waste into school benches. The prize will also offer dozens of grants up to £100,000 to startups with scalable ideas.
“The solutions to Africa’s ever-increasing struggle with managing the rising tide of plastic pollution are already out there,” said Constance Agyeman, director of international development at Nesta Challenges, which launched the prize.
“The Afri-Plastics Challenge is supporting the most promising sub-Saharan African innovators to refine and scale local ideas to have impact on the continent.”
Image: Afri-Plastics Challenge
