Reasonably priced, durable and flexible, plastic pervades modern life, appearing in almost everything from packaging to clothes to beauty products. But it is thrown away on a massive scale. According to the United Nations Environmental Agency, the world is inundated with plastic waste.
Half of the 400 million plastic tonnes manufactured each year are meant for single use. Large volumes of plastic remain in the environment for extended periods, posing a threat to both human and planetary health. The primary cause of these escalating negative effects is the nearly exponential and ongoing rise in plastics usage and manufacturing worldwide.
The problem will probably get worse due to anticipated changes in consumer patterns, urbanisation and population expansion. Less than 10 per cent of the 172 million plastic tonnes that are consumed in Africa get recycled. Between 19 and 23 million tonnes are thought to end up in lakes, rivers and oceans, having a catastrophic impact on the ecology, economy and society.
Local start-up TwendeGreen Eco-cycle recycles marine plastic waste from informal settlements into high-quality, reasonably priced, and long-lasting school eco-desks and chairs, while also fostering job opportunities and economic growth for the surrounding community. This helps to address Kenya’s growing marine plastic waste problem while contributing to education development. The social venture was founded in January 2023 by Churchill Muriuki, Lawrence Kosgei, Zainab Mahmoud a.
