Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We recycle plastic waste into sustainable buttons for the fashion industry.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Pneedles is a pioneering Nigerian startup transforming plastic waste into high-quality, sustainable buttons for the fashion industry. By leveraging advanced recycling technologies and AI-powered processes, we efficiently convert discarded plastics into eco-friendly buttons, reducing environmental pollution and conserving resources. Our blockchain-integrated supply chain ensures transparency and traceability, fostering trust among stakeholders. We collaborate with local communities for waste collection, creating jobs and supporting the local economy. Through strategic partnerships with fashion brands, we offer customizable, innovative button designs, catering to the growing demand for sustainable fashion materials. We're committed to promoting a circular economy by recycling plastic waste, thereby minimizing environmental impact and enhancing value. Our holistic approach combines technology, sustainability, and community engagement to drive positive environmental and social change.

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

Pneedles aims to tackle the escalating problem of plastic pollution in Nigeria, which significantly harms the environment and public health. The country generates over 2.5 million tons of plastic waste annually , much of which ends up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean, contributing to environmental degradation and posing risks to wildlife and human communities. Additionally, the global fashion industry faces scrutiny for its negative environmental impact due to its unsustainable production & consumption practices. In order for the fashion industry to become sustainable, they need to adopt sustainable materials but currently, there's scarcity of affordable, scalable solutions for sustainable fashion materials.

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

Environmental Impact: By recycling plastic waste into buttons, we significantly reduce plastic pollution, lowers CO2 emissions, and conserves natural resources. This contributes to cleaner environments and healthier ecosystems. Cost Efficiency: Our buttons are made from readily available plastic waste, reducing production costs. This cost efficiency allows us to offer affordable prices, making sustainable materials accessible to a broader range of fashion brands. Sustainability and Innovation: Our buttons support the circular economy by reusing and upcycling plastic waste. With customizable designs and the use of advanced technologies, we provide innovative, high-quality products that meet the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly fashion materials. Additionally, our approach creates local jobs, supports community engagement, and enhances the corporate social responsibility (CSR) profiles of fashion brands that utilize our products..

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

We're targeting fashion brands and garment manufacturers.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-12-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

Joshua Attat - CEO & Founder: Sustainability engineer with combined 10+ years of experience in waste management and recycling. Proven track record in leading green initiatives and scaling sustainable startups. A technology specialist with extensive knowledge in AI, blockchain, and IoT. Experience in implementing advanced technologies for process automation and data analytics in recycling industries. Edikan Fred - COO & Co-Founder: A seasoned operations manager with a background in supply chain optimization and logistics. Expertise in streamlining processes and improving efficiency in manufacturing and distribution.

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

https://instagram.com/getpneedles

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Fashion

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

1.1.1 & 1.2.1 & 1.2.2: We’re reducing the population of people living in Nigeria living below the poverty line by providing a steady means of income for waste pickers.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

N/A

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

3.3.3: By reducing plastic pollution we’re helping reduce malaria incidences per 1,000 population in Nigeria 3.9: We’re reducing the mortality rate associated with air pollution from burning of plastic waste & water pollution stemming from plastics & microplastics.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

5.1, 5.5, 5.a, 5.b & 5.c: Majority of our waste pickers supply chain is powered by women; we provide them with the necessary tools to enable them succeed and we don’t discriminate against them in terms of pay or any other form.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

6.3, 6.6 & 6.b: We enable local communities to participate in the process of preventing water pollution & protecting water ecosystems by educating them about the harmful effects of plastic pollution, encouraging & incentivising recycling in their communities by purchasing plastic waste from them.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

8.4: By utilizing plastic waste as our raw materials for manufacturing we’re improving global resource efficiency in our production processes and ensuring there’s sustainable economic growth that’s totally decoupled from environmental degradation. 8.5 & 8.6: We’re providing decent jobs for women and youth in the waste management sector.

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

9.2: Our activities help increase manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP & per capita & also manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment. 9.4: We adopt more environmentally sound production processes that help reduce carbon emissions.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

N/A

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

11.6: Our activities contribute to the sustainable management of the plastic waste generated in Lagos & other neighboring cities.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

12.2: By utilizing plastic waste as raw materials, we eliminate the need to extract new resources(petroleum for production of virgin plastics) thereby contributing to the sustainable management of natural resources. 12.4: We’re preventing the release of plastic waste into soil and water by sustainably collecting & recycling them into buttons 12.5: Our recycling activities help reduce waste generation & increase the national recycling rate significantly. 12.6 & 12.7: By providing buttons made from plastic waste for fashion businesses, we’re enabling them to adopt circular procurement practices in their supply chain.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

13.3: We educate fashion brands on how their current activities contribute to climate change and how they can switch to more sustainable practices that are beneficial to their businesses, the people & the planet.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

14.1 & 14.2: Our activities contribute to the reduction of marine plastic pollution & protection of marine & coastal ecosystems.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

15.3: Our activities help prevent & reduce land & soil degradation from microplastics.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

N/A

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

17.11: By exporting our products to other countries, we’re contributing to the increase of exports by developing countries such as Nigeria where we’re based.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Fashion brands globally already utilize buttons in their production processes - what we're bringing to the table is sustainability.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors include Traditional Button Manufacturers that produce buttons from virgin plastic & other Sustainable Button Producers that also make eco-friendly buttons from materials like wood or bio-plastics. Our competitive advantages include: Local Sourcing: Leveraging abundant plastic waste in Nigeria for raw materials reduces costs and supports local economies. Cost Efficiency: Lower production costs due to recycled materials, enabling competitive pricing. Sustainability Focus: Strong emphasis on environmental impact aligns with growing demand for eco-friendly fashion materials. Scalability: Ability to scale operations quickly due to the widespread availability of plastic waste as a raw material. Market Niche: Specializing in sustainable buttons fills a specific need in the fashion industry, offering unique value.

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

Yes; most of the plastic waste suppliers we work with are females who have set up recycling businesses and we patronize & support their business strongly.