Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

DIFUM PRP is a project seeking to recycle plastic waste by transforming it into long term, more useful products that will be used in the construction industry. This aims to clean the environment and reduce dependence on timber, saving on trees.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

DIFUM PRP is a project that seeks to transform plastic waste into different construction products. This involves converting short-term-use plastics that cause recurring environmental pollution into long-term products which will increase their life cycle hence reducing their pollution effect. The idea is to develop a plastic recycling plant that will collect, transport and process plastic waste into desirable products. These products will include building bricks, wall and floor panels, roofing and paving tiles, doors, fencing poles, assorted boards among other products. These products will offer a competitive and affordable alternative to housing and general construction, significantly reducing the pressure exerted on forests due to the demand and use of timber products. These products will be used in making of furniture, interior decoration products, external finishing products, general house and sanitation amenities construction, road paving and construction of drainage systems.

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

Environmental pollution is the major problem that DIFUM PRP will solve. Plastic waste is a huge menace in the environment and without management it leads to adverse environmental degradation and even loss of plant and animal life. Burning plastics produces harmful gases which increase the risk of diseases and also increase ozone gases in the environment. The reliance of Timber, stone bricks and river sand in construction and furniture industry also exerts pressure on forests and rivers, leading to deforestation, flooding and desertification. This causes direct negative effects on the climate as forests are the first line of defence against global warming. Plastic waste has also been associated with death of plant and animals in many places. This directly creates a food shortage impact as the biodiversity of the planet is put at risk. Dumping of plastic waste therefore creates a significant problem that needs a significant sustainable solution, something that DIFUM PRP is ready to do.

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

The major benefits of DIFUM PRP is the reduction of environmental pollution caused by irresponsible use of plastics, creation of employment, reduction of the use of timber products for furniture and construction purposes and providing alternative affordable building materials. Reducing plastic waste in the environment solves a large part of the waste management problem as almost all other waste categories are easily managed. The rate at which plastics increase in the environment is also high as most of the products are one-time-use products, such as beverage bottles, food packaging, carrier bags etc. Collection and processing of these plastic waste will create a good source of employment. The continued use of Timber in furniture making and also in construction industry places a lot of pressure on forests. With an alternative source of construction products, this pressure will be reduced hence allowing the easier growth and management of forests, leading to better climatic conditions.

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

This project benefits different people at different stages. The collection of plastic waste creates Jobs for Youth and Women at local level who will be involved in the sourcing, sorting and transportation of plastic waste into the plant. The processing plant will also offer numerous jobs to many Youth and Women involved in the manufacture of the different products. Sale of final products will also create jobs for retail operators as they will be involved in direct selling of products to consumers. The final products will also offer better construction materials to the field, potentially creating inclusivity in the construction field. Women for instance will have a chance to join the construction industry. This is because the produced materials will be gender friendly, easy and convenient to use. Of importance, this project will create affordable housing alternatives, allowing many people in low income estates to construct decent homes and lead better lives.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-02-01

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

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

The first partner (Female) is a Procurement and supply chain expert, with three years experience and skilled in sales and marketing. She will be responsible for the sales department. The second partner (Female) is a communication and Public Relations expert, with one year experience and skills in customer relations. She will handle the human resource and communications department. The third partner (Female) is an experienced accounting officer, with two years experience and skills in Financial Information Technology. She will be responsible for the financial accounts. The Fourth Partner (Male) is a skilled Statistician with three years experience and skilled in data analysis technologies. He will be responsible for the technical simulation and planning department. As a team of five, we all bring a diverse set of skills and commitment to realising this goal and creating a sustainable and efficiently operating industry.

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

Http://www.difum.co.ke

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

This projects creates income at all its stages. From collection of plastic waste, transportation, processing and distribution of products, the project will create numerous income generation opportunities, eliminating poverty directly to the employed and indirectly to many others dependants. The products generated from this project will also encourage many people to develop jobs and earn an income. The project will also reduce poverty by providing better affordable housing alternatives to low income households. This will reduce slums by offering better houses and amenities, directly reducing poverty. By cleaning the environment and saving on forests, the project will reduce poverty as better climate and better environmental conditions will significantly increase the value of life and encourage harmonious living conducive for economic growth. This will in turn reduce and eliminate poverty in the society.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

By creating income at the lowest level of the society, this project will improve the ability to buy and produce food, reducing hunger among their families. On a larger scale, the reduction of plastic waste in the environment will significantly enhance agricultural productivity and improve food security. Many lands become over polluted by plastics, which hinders proper growth of healthy crop. By saving on forest cover, which is a source of rainfall, this project will aid in improving climate patterns which are highly important in promoting sustainable agriculture. This will reduce the dependence on technology for irrigation, which closes out many people who cannot afford. Good rainfall will encourage many people to undertake predictable agriculture, which will be more sustainable and effectively reduce hunger in their communities. Pollution also leads to loss of animal and marine life. This project will therefore save on this and improve food security, reducing 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

Environmental conditions have a direct impact on health. Plastic pollution in all its forms causes environmental degradation, leading to dirty water sources and blockage of water ways, a factor that causes water stagnation. This in turn creates breeding grounds for diseases such as cholera and malaria. Plastic waste releases harmful gases into the air when burnt. This has been found to cause breathing difficulties and even cancers among people. By reducing the plastic waste, this project will improve the health and well-being of many people. Lack of proper housing and sanitation is also a major cause of diseases and poor health. The products from this project will provide affordable housing options which will significantly prevent many health hazards directly and indirectly associated with poor settlements. By saving on the forests, this project will improve the health and well-being of people by providing a clean and safe air purification alternative.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

A big threat to education is the lack of enough schools especially in rural areas. Deteriorated schools also present a challenge to learners competing equally with their peers in better developed schools. This project brings a valid alternative for the construction of schools and sanitation amenities. The products of this project will directly be used to construct schools in rural arid and semi-arid areas, which will significantly improve the quality of education. Students will also have better access to desks, chairs, lockers etc made from products of this project. This will highly impact positively on the quality of education. Dilapidated schools will also get a better alternative for maintenance. Indirectly, this project will create peace and prosperity among communities which will give a chance for the learners to comfortably proceed with their education uninterrupted by social factors, such as poverty and disease.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

This project offers economic opportunities to people of all gender and age. At all stages of production, the plant will involve a good number of people both skilled and unskilled for its operation. This will create income to the youth, girls, men and women without discrimination. The collection and transportation stage will significantly involve non skilled labour which will offer unlimited opportunities to many women and girls. Environmental pollution also indirectly leads to gender inequality as many women depend on activities such as farming and trading in markets. A clean environment provided by this project will offer conducive space for the women to excel in their activities without fear of disease or injury. The simplification of building materials in this project will also encourage many women and girls to venture into the construction industry as the materials will be easy to use and gender friendly. Better amenities and houses will also improve the lives of women.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Plastic waste is a huge menace when it comes to Water and sanitation. This is because plastics block water channels, especially sanitation drainages. This in itself causes health hazards which in turn pollutes clean sources of water. Plastics also find their way into water bodies, denying people access to clean water. This project will significantly reduce and prevent such plastic waste from reaching water sources and hence improve access to clean water. Products of this project will also be used in the construction of sanitation amenities, including toilets, sewers and drainages which will be much helpful in managing waste water. This will therefore allow access to better sanitation affordably and efficiently. By improving on the environment and saving on forests which are a major source of water, this project will improve access to clean water and improve the sustainable production of the same for many generations.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Not Applicable

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

This project will provide income generation opportunities to people of all levels. Being a manufacturing project, all stages of production, from Plastic waste collection, transportation, Processing and product distribution, will require heavy human capital. This will create decent work for many. The products of this project will also employ many people for sale and distribution. Similarly, the use of these products will encourage many to adopt new construction methods, as they will be more affordable and sustainable. This will directly offer decent work opportunities and generate economic growth for the communities involved. By supporting and improving the construction industry, this project will boost economic growth and allow many more people to contribute to the economic activities. A clean environment is also important for providing decent work and economic growth. This project will improve the quality of work for many people who depend on good environmental conditions.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

This project creates an inclusive and sustainable way of industrialization. This is because all the stages of production will require input from many regions, both skilled and unskilled. All kinds of people will be included in this project, as it will also cover many regions for collection of Plastic waste and also the sale and distribution of final products. The project is highly sustainable as the raw material is sourced from waste products and the products generated do not create a hazard for the future. By providing alternative construction products, this project contributes to building resilient infrastructure especially in rural areas. The products of this project will allow construction of structures that will be durable, efficient and conducive for many people. This project also highly provides an innovative method of recycling waste and doing construction. This helps to foster innovation as the products can be used for many different applications.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Lack of basic housing, sanitation and decent living standards is a major cause of inequality. Dirty and polluted environment denies residents decent living conditions as it poses health and economic hazards. Polluted areas cannot fairly compete with developed places as they become disadvantaged. This project will improve equality between different regions by standardizing and improving environmental conditions. This project will also provide better housing and construction options which will significantly improve the living standards of many people especially in rural, arid and semi-arid areas. These regions often are discriminated in terms of development and people often end up living in substandard houses. By providing better school buildings materials, this project will reduce educational inequalities in regions where schools are missing or have not been well constructed. This will positively improve equality among all regions and countries.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

This project helps in making cities and towns sustainable, safe, inclusive and resilient by providing a better method of plastic waste recycling. This will lead to cleaner streets, cleaner drainage systems and generally encourage the growth of these cities as residents will have better working and living conditions. Human settlements will greatly benefit from this project as the standard of housing will be significantly improved. The products from this project will offer better building materials and most importantly improve on sanitation and drainage facilities. This will improve the safety and resilience of these settlements, making them cleaner and of better living standards. This project will make cities sustainable by considerably limiting the unmanaged disposal of plastic waste. On a larger scale, the products of this project will offer sustainable alternatives to building and interior decoration materials, which will improve the resilience and safety of towns and cities.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

This project will be transformative in creating a circular model of production and consumption. The raw material used in this project will be plastic waste already discarded and of little or no use. This will therefore improve on their manufacturer's cycle by providing a long term and sustainable use in place of the one-time, short term use. Through this, the production of such plastics will no longer be a hazard as their use will be extended after they finish their initial original purpose. This project will ensure that all products that reach the end of their cycle are returned back to source and recycled into better products. All plastic products that are produced will have a sustainable consumption pattern. Products which end their consumption use will be reproduced into long term products which will then be consumed at a different level. Similarly, when these products no longer serve their purpose they will also be reproduced into better products, maintaining a circular economy.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

This project takes the front line in championing for climate action. By providing a sustainable alternative to the use timber for construction and furniture, this project promotes the conservation of forests which are a major tool for combating climate change. The use of timber has led to catastrophic deforestation in many parts of the world. This has brought about climate changes and desertification. Currently, forests are the best solution towards reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Reducing their dependence is therefore not an option but a necessity. This project provides a valid alternative that will greatly reduce the pressure and reliance on forests for timber. Pollution of the environment also has a direct impact on the climate. Plastic waste specifically produces dangerous gases when burnt which have negative effects on the environment. This project will reduce the plastic waste, causing a positive chain effect leading to better climatic conditions.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Not Applicable

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Plastic waste has a direct effect on life on land. Plastic pollution causes land degradation to an extent that lands become inhabitable and unproductive. Farm lands become desolate and infertile due to land pollution. Settlement is also affected as plastic waste limits the possibilities of decent life. A major concern remains the reliance and dependence on forests for construction and furniture industries. These significantly pose a threat to the already stressed forests and have led to massive deforestation in many parts of the country and the world at large. This projects offers solutions to these challenges by first removing plastic waste hazards from the land environment and secondly protecting the forests and encouraging their growth by providing alternative products to timber. Biodiversity is directly dependent on a clean and healthy environment, a factor that is highly improved through this project.

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Not Applicable

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Not Applicable

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

6

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

5

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

6

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.

6

05.08 Justification

DIFUM PRP is unique as it offers an entirely different method of plastic waste recycling. The innovative part of the project is the use of recycled plastic for manufacture of construction materials. These materials offer lightweight, strong and durable building alternatives to timber, stone bricks, earth bricks and river sand. These products will also be used for road paving and lining of drainage systems. Most recycling methods involve the conversion of plastic waste back into similar short term products which still end up as waste within a short period. This basically creates an unending loop of waste production. This project will innovatively create affordable alternative products that will revolutionise the housing and construction industry, replacing the unsustainable products. These products are not in production currently, atleast not commercially. Plastic waste in most cities simply ends up in dump sites, creating a permanent pollution menace.

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

Being an entirely new idea, this project only faces competition from traditional sources of building materials. Timber products, which we aim to replace, remain the biggest potential competitor as our products will be used in similar applications. The use of stone bricks and metal products also offer competition to our products. This project however stands out as it is by far more sustainable and efficient compared to the other products in the market. This project not only solves the problem of plastic waste management but also provides a means to reducing the pressure on the environmental purifiers, which are the forests. Being a circular economic model, this project beats the odds in remaining self sustainable as well as promoting sustainability of important aspects of the environment. Most importantly, this projects targets rural and low income settlements, which have currently not been focused on. This creates a unique market in need of the products of this project.

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

Yes. I have been involved in several seminars and motivational programmes geared towards encouraging female entrepreneurs and addressing the challenges they face. As an entrepreneur I have been actively involving female partners in generating and implementing business ideas at community level. I have also supported several female entrepreneurs in terms of consultative advice and mentorship towards successful business management. I have also been in several leadership roles, of which I made use of those platforms to empower female colleagues into leadership, a factor which later plays a huge role in entrepreneurship. Most of those ladies ended up running active successful businesses. Evident from this project, I have purposely involved three female partners out of five, which has been beneficial as the ideas they have contributed have played a very important role into the creation of this project. I personally believe in the empowerment of the female gender.