Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Nudefeet Footwear is an upcycling initiative that repurposes unfriendly environmental waste into wearable art by transforming discarded car tires into handmade footwear through the innovative use of the 4R technology; Reduce, Reuse, Recover,Recycle.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Nudefeet Footwear is an upcycling innovation that transforms discarded car tires into sustainable wearable art in form of handmade footwear with minimal carbon footprint. With the vision of transforming the environmental and economic landscape of our communities, youths without post-secondary education and stay at home mothers earn a decent living for themselves through creation of handmade eco-friendly footwear meant for conscious consumers. Our innovation has in its mandate an agenda to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation through the sustainable innovative use of the 4R technology; Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Recovery of old car tyres. Our innovation is ecology minded, it uses car tyres as soles to hand make afro centric fashionable footwear using minimal carbon emission methods. It provides ecologically and economically sustainable jobs to women and youths living in areas with historical chronic unemployment as guided in SDG #8, 10 and 11.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The innovation strives to solve two main societal challenges; (1) Employment inequality and (2) Environmental degradation. These challenges have long persisted sustained by lowery economically productive communities. With Covid-19 having disproportionately affected many marginalized groups, a dramatic increase in inequality was the outright evidence of the severity of effects of the pandemic that created an enabling environment for people to remain poor due to loss of jobs, business including harsh effects of droughts encountered in the years before. The reality of such a catastrophic combination, of human induced and natural disasters, are outcomes that leads to communities that are less far less resilient, economically and environmentally, as the gains on equity and inclusivity of previous years are exponentially wiped. Our innovation priotises these marginalized groups through provision of sustainable jobs addressing the aforementioned community challenges.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our innovation has measureable cross cutting focus on issues around social, economic, gender and environmental sustainability. Firstly, by diverting landfill bound waste such as car tyres, to a more meaningful purpose, that would otherwise lead to carbon emissions if it were burnt, the environment is sustained and allowed to regenerate itself in a less toxin surrounding. Secondly, by having with a workforce comprising of a 60% Women living in low income communities, we play our part in empowering the vulnerable groups existing in our community. Thirdly, we contribute to the development and growth of clean cities and communities by using minimal carbon footprint methods in our production process. Lastly, we commit to priotising building value driven change over profit maximisation through strengthening grassroot artisanal skills that gives capacity to communities to fight poverty at individual household level.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The innovation works with stay at home mothers living in low-income communities and youths without formal education as its main beneficiaries. It provides ecologically and economically sustainable jobs to women and youths living in areas with historical chronic unemployment by giving them capacity to fight poverty at individual household level. This is done by leveraging on community artisanal skills and knowledge. Ours is a call to respond to some of the pressing needs facing humanity such as climate change and unemployment as opposed to profit maximization.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-10-26

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Florence Mwale 8years of practical experience in project marketing and design, operations, stakeholder management, project planning and implementation, grant writing and monitoring and evaluation. Possess a Degree in development studies, diploma in journalisms and public relations with vast experience working on both civic and environmental projects. Evelyn Sitambi Possess 5 years’ experience in stakeholder engagement having worked on various projects with multiple international agencies and SMEs. Experienced in starting and building enterprises, social media marketing, brand visibility and grant writing. Strong background in concept writing, continuously improvement as well as problem solving skills with a certificate focussed in sustainability studies.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064003354934&mibextid=ZbWKwL

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Handcrafts(Manufacturing)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

. It provides ecologically and economically sustainable jobs to women and youths living in areas with historical chronic unemployment by strenghtening their capacity to fight poverty at individual household level. This is done by leveraging on their existing artisanal skills to create value from waste.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

The innovation contributes to provision of descent income through paid work, this entails our beneficiaries not only have the capacity to buy food, but also afford descent healthy meals despite the considerably high food prices. This somehwats plays a part in preventing malnutrition especially in newly born babies.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Car tyres can take up to 80 years to decompose thereby becoming a breeding ground, in the process, for disease causing species such as mosquitoes as well as becoming a potential source of toxic gases when burnt. By diverting car tyres to a better purpose, both mosquito breeding and Chronic related illnesses that come as a result of uncontrolled damping and burning of car tyres respectiely are minimised.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

All forms of empowerment for women and girls play a role in making this goal a reality by 2030.We have committed to atleast 60% Women to Men gender parity. This is just not in theory but in practise and too. 2 of our 3 founders are women.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The ash generated from burning tires can contain toxic substances that can contaminate nearby soil and water bodies. When tire ash is deposited onto the ground or carried away by rainwater, it can leach pollutants into the soil and water, potentially affecting ecosystems and posing risks to human health through the food chain and drinking water sources.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We have committed to paying renumerations that are above industry avaerages. We also contribute to the growth of the economy by being tax complaint. We are also building an industry that is socially inclusive through social protection.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Nudefeet Footwear has in its mandate an agenda to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation through the sustainable innovative use of the 4R technology; Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Recovery of old car tires to make wearable art meant for conscious consumers. Our innovation is ecology minded, it uses car tyres as soles to hand make afro centric fashionable footwear using minimal carbon emission methods

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Supporting marginalised groups such as women and youths living in low income informal settlements fulfills our mandate to reduce social and economic inequalities existing among the vulnarble groups of our society. We also reverse income disparities as we commit to paying salaries higher than the industry avarage

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

As more and more towns continue to experience poor air quality due to urbanisation and industralisation, our innovation, which committs to decouple economic growth from enviromental degredation, diverts landfill bound waste that massively contributes to air pollution to a meaningful purpose hence contributing to enviromental sustainability through minimising potential causes of air pollution, this way we contribute to building sustainable cities and communities conducive for all.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Our role to ensure responsible consumption and production is through sustainable tourisms. As tourists go on there adventure to various host communities,it is important they enviromental concious but wearing footwear designed to be enviromentally frriendly.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

One of the major contributors to climate change is global warming,largely due to uncontrolled greenhouse gase emissions.Greenhouse gases contribute to high temperatures, high temperatures affect water availability making it scarcer in more regions thereby increasing the factors that put and keep people in poverty. On the other hand, Flash floods affect crop yield while global warming increases the risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops as ecological droughts also, increase ecosystems vulnerability. Our innovations plays a part in reducing these effects by diverting landfill bound waste such as car tyres that would otherwise lead to carbon emissions if it were burnt to a more meaningful purpose in form of sustainable handcrafted footwear made from minimal carbon emissions methods.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

6

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

3

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

3

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.01. Yes, nearly everyone in the world has a pair of machine made footwear 06.02 Yes, as global demand of conscious consumerism grows, our product is an improvement to machine polluting products currently dominating the market. 06.06 Yes, the world is shifting its focus to ethical production, and our product, ways of practise respond to that. 06.07 Yes, the product is an improved version of what is already on the market. This is based on the production practise employed and the general afrocentric look

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Traditional Masai Shoe Makers: These are predominantly informal business but command a sizable market share. However, we are unique as we deliver our products to individual household. Also our products have a variety of designs, colours and patterns as opposed to just one. Our products have a double layer of cushion that helps massage the feet our clients as they walk

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, we source most of our raw materials from female led business who are part of our value chain. We also have 2 of the 3 cofounders as women.