Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Recycling of waste disposable diapers into bio-coal and liquid fertilizer.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Disposable diaper waste is a good waste resource for producing energy and agricultural farm input. Our project leverages this waste resource by using a unique carbonization process, the Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) process to produce bio-coal (hydrochar, with a high calorific value compared to conventional biomass fuels) and liquid fertilizer.

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

Diaper waste problem, which ends up in landfills and drainage systems. Diaper takes more than 500 years to degrade while causing serious detrimental environmental consequences, such as the release of microplastics into the environment, greenhouse gas emissions, bio-hazard to the surrounding communities and blockage of city infrastructures. The existing technology to manage diaper waste is expensive and not ideal for the African market due to high energy intensity and being expensive to run. With the increased growth of African cities such as Nairobi, sustainable and affordable waste management solutions are paramount, since the waste volume will increase including that of disposable diaper waste.

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

Our technology is a science-based approach, that converts the property of a diaper under high pressure and temperature in the presence of water at a supercritical state. Compared to other technologies e.g. pyrolysis and inceneration, a lot of gases get to be released into the environment and they use a lot of energy with little yield making the technology unsustainable both environmentally and economically. With our technology expected yields will be in the range of 40-60% while less energy will be used as well higher quality yields will be channelled out.

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

Key beneficiaries include local governments and municipal councils, where the pain of managing diapers persists the most. The project also targets waste management companies who after waste segregation channel the diaper waste to the landfills, the third target group is hospitals in managing their diaper waste.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-08-10

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.)

Jannifer Muthike is an entomologist and an award-winning entrepreneur experienced in consultancy, developing, installing, and managing insect waste management innovation systems for over 4 years. His vast experience in waste and innovation management makes her a suitable partner for this project. Her strength is demonstrated through collaboration in mapping out innovation suitability in waste management its sustainability and efficiency. Joseph Kamau, is a financial engineer, with vast experience co-founding startups, especially the FMCG industry. He comes in handy in developing a sustainable business model, financial model and funding cycle of the startup. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-kamau-21620344/.

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?

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

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The technology will provide decent job opportunities to low-income personnel working in the waste sector, especially waste pickers (informal workers in the waste value chain).

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

One of the products produced via this technology is an effluent rich in beneficial nutrients for the plant. It can be refined further into a concentrated liquid fertilizer.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Diaper waste takes 500 years to degrade by releasing microplastics into the environment which eventually ends up in food and water systems affecting human and animal health. Improper management can cause outbreaks of diseases such as cholera in the communities near dumpsites. Eradicating this waste makes our environment cleaner safe to live in.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Many women and youth play a part in informal waste management. This innovation provides more decent jobs for women in this sector, with formal decent job empowerment.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Diversion of disposable diaper waste from landfills and garbage piles to our solution prevents water contamination caused by microplastics and other potentially dangerous biological agents. This guarantees that ground and runoff water are waste-free, preventing water contamination caused by diapers. The diversion also keeps garbage from clogging municipal drainage systems, reducing sanitary problems caused by blocked sewage systems.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

One of the key products in our process is hydrochar, a biocoal. A clean alternative to charcoal with high calorific value, and higher energy density per unit volume than charcoal. Therefore, a higher heating value (HHV) compared to charcoal. This means that hydrochar releases more energy during combustion per unit of mass. Producing it from waste with a less energy intensive technology gives us the confidence that the energy product will be affordable.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Recycling diaper waste is a novel approach to the waste value chain in Africa. New emerging decent jobs will be created through sales, installation and operation of the technology. On top of that new diaper waste diversion systems will be implemented through collaboration with municipalities and private waste management organizations, creating direct and indirect job opportunities. Overall, this innovation will be a boost to economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our approach is a unique technology for addressing waste, this novel approach will lead to new science-based industry innovation from Africa and infrastructure improvement that embraces the circular economy model around diaper waste management.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Waste pickers are one of the group that faces discrimination and low wages. Redefining how diaper waste is managed, creates a new system in the value chain that embraces inclusivity and decent opportunities narrowing down the inequality gap associated with this industry.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Many African cities i.e. Nairobi, are having a challenge managing diaper waste, existing management systems are not efficient enough to divert this waste sustainably. This in return is causing catastrophic experiences such as city flooding due to blockage of drainage systems and diseases in communities neighbouring dumpsite places. Our innovation is therefore paramount to making our cities more sustainable and liveable.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Getting diaper waste out of the environment with sustainable technology embraces the principles of the circular economy. In addition to that, the end products can be used as clean energy and for regenerative agriculture. Overall, this makes the solution stand out in supporting responsible consumption and production. 

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Life cycle assessment of a diaper has shown the ability of a single diaper to generate 630kg of greenhouse gases into the environment in its entire lifetime, approximately 500 years. This creates the need to divert it into a recyclable resource. Our approach therefore addresses this climate need significantly.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Diaper waste microplastics end up in the rivers and eventually into the seas and oceans. Therefore managing it at the source protects marine life.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Recycling diapers prevent harming the soil with microplastics and pharmacological ingredients such as antibiotics that might be found in the faecal matter. This in return prevents bioaccumulation of lethal agents in the food system. One of the products extracted from our process is a liquid organic fertilizer that can be used on plants embracing regenerative agriculture practices.

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

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

3

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.

2

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

2

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

The present available methods for handling diaper waste include incineration and pyrolysis, both of which are costly to set up and maintain, not to mention the environmental issues they pose. Our approach, on the other hand, is highly innovative and provides the necessary benefits desired by consumers (municipal councils, waste management organizations, farmers and industries that need heating in their operations).

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

Companies installing incinerators and pyrolysis systems for diaper waste management. Currently, in Kenya, we have Adarsh Polymer solemnly focused on plastic waste.

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

Yes, this is by collaborating with them on my projects. Currently we collaborating with a female entrepreneur and founder of Dudu Masters in establishing an IoT-powered insect farm in Uganda for managing 10 tonnes of organic waste daily.