Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our project is the Biopactic material. This is a next generation alternative to single use plastic polymers that are used in packaging of fast moving consumer goods. The material is synthesized from the invasive water hyacinth and is 100% biodegradable.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The biopactic material is a novel idea that was conceived from immense experience in the recycling and river cleanup space. Having done that for a very long time, we realized that most of the plastic polymers that ended up polluting the environment was poly ethylene. This is the material used to mostly manufacture single use plastic. In our efforts to expand our operations to other counties, we also realized that the Lake Victoria has been plagued by the invasive water hyacinth plant that has been a great menace as it provides suitable grounds for breeding of water borne disease vectors. Our research and development team then used our patented bioconversion technology to synthesizing the Biopactic material, which is an alternative to single use plastic. This material displays incredible versatility, flexibility and high print quality. The material can also be used to produce diapers and sanitary towels that are safe

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

With this project, we are essentially killing two birds with one stone. How so you ask? for decades, the water hyacinth plant as been a problem to the community living around Lake Victoria as it is a breeding ground for disease borne vectors like Malaria. It also grows at a very fast rate and form a thick layer on the lake which ends up harming aquatic life. This usually also affects the local community's main economic activity that is fishing. We therefore came up with an intergrated community based approach whereby we engage the local community to harvest the water hyacinth for us which we then use to make the biopactic material which is 100% biodegradable that can be used to make customized food and product packaging as well as diapers and sanitary towels that are organic. This solves the problem of platic pollution in the environment. Other parts of the water hyacinth plant is also used in the making of biogas which is an used by the local community as most of them are fish mongers

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

1. By using the alternative biopactic material, one gets to conserve the environment as it is 100% biodegradable. This greatly reduce the menace that is plastic pollution. 2. Secondly, the water hyacinth species is greatly reduced and even eradicated hopefully therefore reducing water borne disease incidences 3. The biopactic material offers very high flexibility, tensile strength and print quality. 4. It is also 20% cheaper than alternatives in the market currently. 5. Sanitary products made from the biopactic material are safer and cheaper that the options that are currently in place.

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

Our project is aimed at serving the everyday person who uses fast moving consumer goods and is very keen on environmental conservation issues. This means that they are well versed with the importance of using biodegradable alternatives. We hope to make this project a household name not only in Kenya but in the greater Sub Saharan region. We hope to achieve this by forming partnerships with leading manufacturing companies to adopt our solution as an alterntive to single use packaging. We are targeting small and medium enterprises that utilize product packaging in their operations to embrace our biodegradable Biopactic alternative. Women and mothers who are keen on the quality of sanitary towels and diapers that they use for themselves and their children.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-10-18

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

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

Martina Sikawa Martina is a scientist with vast knowledge in the biological aspect of biopactic material production from water hyacinth plants. She is a holder of a Bsc in Biological sciences from Maseno University. Robert Achoge Production and Process optimization Manager: 8 years of experience in social enterprise development with in-depth understanding of stakeholder engagement, public relations and gender inclusivity hence brings his much needed knowledge to the day to day operations of Chemolex. Yvonne Arina Communication and partnership: A graduate of The University of Nairobi. She is a communications and PR practioner currently working in the communications department at Chemolex Ltd. She is passionate about creating impactful stories on the environment, women and youth. Clifford Owino Okoth: CoFounder and CEO: Industrial Chemist and innovator with vast experience in renewable energy and water hyacinth plants. He leads the RND team for

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

https://chemolex.co.ke/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

With this project, we are applying a strategy that will significantly benefit the local community. We plan to engage the youth and mostly women in the area to harvest the water hyacinth for pay. This will empower them economically and ensure that they are able to afford their needs. We also seek to partner with Savings And Credit Cooperative Organizations like Stima SACCO to offer financial literacy tools to the local community. We do understand that offering PPEs for the collection job may not be enough, we will offer the youth we employ health insurance packages so that they are wel covered in the event of illnesses. Having removed the water hyacinth from the Lake, Fish farming is now easier and the local community do this for a living to help them earn a living.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Our project ensures sustainable agriculture by getting rid of the invasive water hyacinth plant species, Aquatic life can now thrive, in this case fish from Lake Victoria. This ensures the local community is well fed and surplus sold as well. This ensures improved proper nutrition and food security is then achieved as a result.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

We do understand that offering PPEs for the collection job may not be enough, we will offer the youth we employ health insurance packages so that they are wel covered in the event of illness. With proper nutrition often comes good health, therefore the community will get proper nutrition since they will be able to afford it and also get fish from the Lake as the hyacinth plant is being removed.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Our project will promote financial literacy to the local community and even by employing them, the locals will be get an opportunity to be educated on the importance of using biodegradable products as opposed to their alternatives. Having been economically empoweed will help the also be in a position to educate the children. This will ensure quality education for all.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

This project has is being led by a female, myself. In the Lab and product development department, I have a team of highly competent laboratory assistants and research scientists. At the collection points back in the lake region, the majority of the youth harvesting the water hyacinth plant are actually women, more than 60 percent. Women are equally and fairly represented in this 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

Being that the project involves the removal of water hyacinth plants, the water around the lake region is going to be much cleaner and safer even to be used by the locals in their domestic day to day activities. Once our product penetrates the market properly and is accepted I am certain that environmental pollution by single use plastic polymers would be a thing of the past; especially in the rivers. This will then ensure that water ways are clean and are not as polluted as before.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The water hyacinth plant is very interesting as it has got plenty uses. The shoot is used to produce the biopactic material but the root on the other hand is used to generate biogas; a clean biofuel that is an alternative source of energy to sources like firewood and charcoal which promote deforestation. This helps more than 100 women traders by the lake side who are fish mongers to carry out their trade. The hyacinth biogas is also way cheaper than the other alternatives

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 provides employment for the local community as well as young talented and innovative professionals. This not only economically empowers them but it also but also gives them a dignified job that creates a greater impact in society whilst solving a problem at the same time

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

The biopactic material is the first of its kind in the greater sub saharan region. It is an innovative product that seeeks to solve one problem using another problem.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Biodegradable plastic polymers are a concept that have been tested in most European countries and they have been well received. In Africa however, this is a concept that is abit foreign and having introduced it will ensure the gap is bridged between the third and first world 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

The use of Biodegradable plastic will ensure that pollution by plastic is eradicated and this will ensure a safe environment due to no plastic pollution. Communities that will be employed will also be far much sustainabledue to this project.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

In this project, we are commited to promoting a cleaner greener planet and as a result, we ensure all our innovative products are made from organic materials with use of minimal to no chemicals at all. We ensure the practice of green chemistry at all times. Since our product is biodegradable, it is also reusable and recyclable. We have a systemic return to store programme where consumers can do that and earn some shopping points. this is excellent resposibility when it comes to production and consumption.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our project seeks to address the greater climate change issues by eradicating pollution, which in turn ensures a greener environment and prevents climat

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Life below water will be conserved because our project is offering a biodegradable alternative solution which will break down in the event that it is found in the lakes and maybe oceans. The fauna and flora will be well preserved and not die as a result of pollution.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Terrestrial ecosystems will also be greatly protected as the biopactic material is 100% biodegradable. Therefore in the event that it ends up on land, it will breakdown without harming the environment.

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

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

N/A

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

When we eventually grow, we sek to form partnerships with leading manufacturers like Unilever and Nestle to adopt our eco friendly packaging material and join us in our mission of creating a cleaner, greener planet. We also would like to partner with leading biotech institutions to make other materials like bloodbags from our biodegradable biopactic material

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

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

3

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

3

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

Our project is novel idea and the patented bioconversion technology we employ is the first of its kind. The biopactic material is new to the market. The solutions that currently exist are single us plastic packaging which have been banned in Kenya in a bid to promote environmental conservation and combat pollution. We aim to have this biodegradable material being used not only with fast moving consumer product but also with other materials like biotech equipment in the near future.

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

Our main potential competitor are the manufactures of single use plastic packaging material that comes in all form, tetrapack for milk, non woven bags and manufactures of single use product pacakaging. Currently, the polyethylene packaging bags have been banned in the country. Because of thus, we have seen them being replaced by grocery khaki bags as well as the non woven bags. These are better than the polythene since they are easily reusable and recyclable. Our product's main edge is that it is reusable and recyclable to ensure complete circularity of the product but most importantly it is 100% biodegradable in the event that it ends up in the environment. This is what makes us stand out.

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

Yes I am actively involved in the activities that seek to bridge the gender gap especially in the renewable energy and waste management space. In my company, I often ensure that the female waste pickers are empowered and given fair rights and good working conditions. Recently, we have been able to give them an alternative income generating activity that empowers them economically.