Using Plastic Waste to Light Up Lives for a Greener Future

The Challenge 10,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste is generated in Kenya daily. Nairobi alone generates 2,800 tonnes daily, 20% of which is thrown into the environment blocking drainages and encroaching homes. Everyday 35 million Kenyans live in the dark, entrenched in light poverty. Only about 18% of Kenyans have access to electricity - a number which drops to 5% if urban areas are excluded. For Kenyans electricity when available is expensive at around 20 c/kWh (USD). Many households resort to using kerosene lanterns for light, increasing the risk of household fires, personal injuries such as burns and kerosene poisoning and, in the long term, the risk of chronic respiratory diseases due to harmful emissions. Additionally, kerosene emits approximately 2.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per liter; and it is estimated that Africa’s Base of the Pyramid’s (BoP) use of kerosene-based lighting accounts for 20 million tonnes of CO2 emission per year, further exacerbating the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.

Our Solution Solar For Plastics is a social enterprise that seeks to address plastic waste and energy poverty in Kenya using an innovative business model and social participation scheme that aims to recycle plastic waste and deliver solar light to off-grid households to help the base of the socio-economic pyramid In partnership with Dutch Designer Dave Hakkens of Precious Plastics - an open source recycling initiative that uses basic materials, tools and universal parts to build a recycling factory that overcomes the machine barrier , as all parts are easily scavenged, replaced or customized, our innovative approach uses plastic waste collected by unemployed youth and women as capital for them to start micro enterprises as grassroots entrepreneurs selling solar lamps and train them on building their own recycling plants using open source approach. Recently, prices for solar lanterns have been dropping and they offer the best alternative to electricity to supply clean, affordable lighting and phone charging to those who are not connected to the electric grid.  To ensure financial sustainability plastic waste is recycled into eco-friendly plastic items that can then be sold at retail outlets; a margin is added on solar lamps sold. The profits are all ploughed back into the enterprise.

Business Model Infographic Plastic Waste Youth & Women deliver plastic waste for recycling Factory recycles plastic waste into eco friendly items for sale through retail outlets Youth and women start micro enterprise as grassroots entrepreneurs selling solar lanterns

Triple Bottom Line Impact Social Impacts Environmental Impacts Economic Impacts Generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth and women as: plastic waste collectors, grassroots entrepreneurs selling solar lanterns and training on setting up their own recycling factories Reduce pollution by recycling plastic waste Reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by replacing kerosene lanterns with solar lamps Develop micro-enterprises for marginalised youth and women. Improve economic productivity by providing affordable and highly efficient solar products