As part of the second phase of the Afri-Pastics initiative organized by Nesta Challenges, 10 African start-ups have been selected to present their sustainable solutions for plastic waste management. The initiative funded by the Government of Canada aims to protect marine ecosystems from plastic waste pollution.
As marine plastic pollution threatens biodiversity and livelihoods in coastal countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the second phase of the Afri-Plastics initiative will feature 10 African start-ups. The 10 candidates from Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa will create solutions to help reduce the use of plastic on the continent.
Among the innovations that will cross swords during this final is the Rwandan mobile application Toto Safi, which offers parents clean and sterilized cloth diapers instead of disposable ones. Also, the ShoppersBag solution developed by Nigerian start-up Well of Science, is expected by the jury with its biodegradable bags that allow users to get a payout after each use.
South African company Regenize will also participate in this Afri-Plastics final. The start-up co-founded by Chad Robertson and Nkazimlo Miti is known in Cape Town for its “Zero-Waste Spaza”. This solution allows South African shopping enthusiasts to make their purchases without generating plastic waste in stores.
The crowning achievement of innovation
Start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) selected by the jury will be awarded £75,000 (plus US$90,000) for the development of their innovations. In addition, from the 2023 session, the three winners of each edition will share up to £1 million, or US$1.2 million.
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In March, the Nesta Challenges organization unveiled the 15 finalists of the first phase of the Afri-Plastics competition, including several food packaging and building material solutions. Also, sustainable and plastic-free sanitary products for women and drinking water supply solutions without single-use plastic bottles.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
