Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

With plastic waste becoming an environmental hazard and a public nuisance, I am going to recycle this plastic waste and make furniture specifically, chairs, tables, beds, etc which have been consuming Timber thus reducing plastic and tree-cutting

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Plastic waste can be recycled and with a few additives can be used to create strong durable items that are a need in every household including chairs, tables, cabinets, and beds, among others. With the increase in population world over and Uganda specifically, the need for furniture keeps increasing everyday. This project therefore addresses two fundamental aspects: contributing to solving the plastic waste challenge while reducing the need for Timber for furniture thus saving a considerable number of trees from being cut. This project shall create unique designs of furniture sets made out of recycled plastic waste which are a replica of the furniture made out of wood. The project will first focus on the furniture for school desks and chairs and later roll it out for general household plastic furniture

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

I am solving the problem of deforestation for furniture use and land degradation due to plastic dumping. Over the years, traditional carpenters have relied heavily on Timber for crafting furniture products. The increased population has led to increased demand for furniture hence increased deforestation. Trees take years to grow only to be cut to make furniture. Schools alone in Uganda rely on wooden furniture for their chairs and tables and this has drastically impacted heavily on environmental degradation. By using plastic from waste, I can reduce deforestation and decrease the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our water channels and landfills. This would be a win-win situation for both the environment and our community.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Plastic furniture is very long lasting and strong and can be crafted in all shapes. Plastic furniture out of plastic waste is a sustainable solution to environmental degradation due to the increasing plastic waste and tree cutting. Therefore the major benefit of making plastic furniture out of plastic waste is to save the environment from the challenges of plastic waste pollution and deforestation due to the demand for Timber products

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

My target beneficiaries are schools and households. The first phase of the project shall focus on providing affordable plastic furniture for primary schools in uganda. The second phase will be providing plastic furniture for secondary schools in Uganda The third phase of the project is to roll out well crafted home furniture for households

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Ashaba Dema Trust: He is a very strong business developer with a strong sense of management. He is a graduate of business administration (accounting) at Makerere University. He is very passionate about saving the environment and is a risk taker 2. Mutoni Shannie. She is a very honest and hard working lady with passion to make a difference. She is a dependable person a barchalers degree graduate and seasoned administrator.

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The project shall create employment for thousands of youth who would otherwise be unemployed. The employment opportunities will stem all through the stages of the project including plastic waste collection, recycling, value addition, and furniture crafting.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The major cause of food insecurity has been unreliable weather conditions. With the project aiming at conserving the environment through reducing deforestation, reducing plastic waste into the environment, and conserving water bodies from plastic pollution thus saving fish and other water creatures, the project Wil then contribute to favorable conditions through which agricultural production can flourish hence fighting food insecurity and contributing to realization of Zero hunger.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The cutting down of trees and the general reduction of the forest cover has significantly affected the weather patterns and seasons. Therefore people no longer have enough food to eat and thus widespread hunger in several places has led to malnutrition in various parts of the country. Recent studies indicate that food prices have increased due to poor agricultural yields which is majorly attributed to unreliable weather conditions. Therefore people are eating badly due to poor yields which has affected their well-being

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The project phase 1 and 2 are purely dedicated to providing comfortable plastic furniture for schools which will support the school children in their education journey. Quality education is not only defined by the lectures and tutorials given in class but also by the comfort experienced by the learners. It is on this background that I strongly believe that the project supports Quality Education

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The target beneficiaries are non-discriminatory and girls shall equally benefit from the use of plastic furniture. Additionally, the project shall provide employment opportunities to girls and women in the various stages of the project.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Research indicates that chlorinated plastics can release harmful substances into the soil which in turn are absorbed by underground water and the entire ecosystem. These chemicals eventually are harmful to plants water and land animals and humans. Also, the siltation of the trenches by littered plastic eventually leads to the clogging of these drainage channels and leads to water stagnation and flooding in low-lying residential areas which increases the risk of diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and malaria among others. The project therefore solves the challenge above by reducing the amounts of plastic that would otherwise be pouting the environment. Thus contributing to clean water and sanitation

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

The plastic recycling into furniture is in itself smart working approach since the plastics are easy to clean, can withstand harsh weather conditions, meaning that they can be used both in door and outdoor, and can provide jobs to the considerable number of youths. Once the project has fully been rolled out in the country and served a significant number of beneficiaries, the project shall expand and be able to export the same product to the other parts of the world since we face the similar challenge. The creation of jobs and foreign exchange from earning from exports will contribute to individual and national economic growth respectively

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

The entire process of achieving the results from the project is a production process which will need setting up an industry with equipment and production layout processes and system. Therefore the project is strongly in support of industrial innovation and infrastructure

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Any desirable city or community is one where clean water and sanitation are prime and environmental practices are good. Most cities are struggling daily and spending a lot of money in the management of plastic waste which affects their drainage systems and constitutes a great deal of their waste disposal. This project therefore is a true inspiration to achieving a sustainable city with effective drainage systems free from plastic waste debris and supporting a healthy community free from water bone-related diseases.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

By recycling plastic into a new smart product like plastic furniture, the project is already contributing to responsible consumption and products that focus on a circular economic pattern

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The reduction of forest cover and green belts due to deforestation is among the biggest challenges contributing to climate change. However, the need for wood as a raw material cannot be actualized without cutting down a tree. It is with this regard that this project seeks to address the challenge by replacing timber-made furniture with recycled plastic furniture. For instance, records indicate that there are approximately 1550 schools in Uganda. Each school would need an average of 300 desks for its learners annually. Imagine if 10 desks can be made from one tree, it means over 45000 trees will be cut to keep the steady supply of furniture to schools. This project therefore is a contributor to the sustainable actions to combat climate change.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Plastic waste always ends up in water streams, rivers, lakes, and seas, most times the animals living in water including fish, whales, turtles, and birds among others normally mistake the indigestible plastic waste for food. This later leads to ingestion and suffocation. Therefore by reducing plastic waste that would otherwise find its way into the water bodies, the project is already promoting life underwater

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

The project's major product is plastic furniture which replaces traditional Timber furniture. This means that there will be a clear direct contribution to the reduction of tree cutting for Timber which will lead to restoration of the forest cover and green belts.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Climate change is a global challenge and any solutions to the challenge bring the world together. I, therefore, believe that my project shall get attention from development partners and environmental protection enthusiasts since it gives a solution that cuts across borders

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

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

3

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

2

05.08 Justification

05.02 - Plastic furniture is not purely a new product in Uganda however to schools with 98% still using wood furniture, it will be new to them. 05.04. - The plastic furniture is an improvement on an already existing product. For instance, plastic chairs and tables are being sold in Uganda but schools are still predominantly using wooden furniture. This project is therefore to create seats and desks customized for class/school. 05.05: - indeed the plastic furniture shall provide additional support to existing products and services 05.06: - The current wood furniture used in schools is very costly to the environment and therefore my product shall fill that gap.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

My main competitors are the wood carpenters who have been making desks and chairs for schools. The plastic school furniture is lighter compared to the traditional desks made of wood Also, the plastic desks are weather-friendly and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Also, my cost price will be lower than the traditional desk.

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

Yes, I registered a club where female entrepreneurs are among