Ethiopia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We fight waste & save trees! Recycle paper into new paper products.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The world consumes a staggering 19.3 Billion A4 sheets daily, requiring an estimated 2.3-3.4 million trees. This not only depletes forests but burdens developing nations with expensive paper imports. Our project tackles this two-pronged issue through paper recycling: Collection & Sorting: We'll establish a system to collect used paper, cartons, and similar products. This could involve partnering with businesses, schools, and communities to set up designated bins or collection points. Collected materials will be sorted based on quality and type. Processing & Repurposing: Sorted paper will be pulped (broken down into fibers) using water and minimal chemicals. The pulp will then be transformed into new paper products like: Recycled paper sheets Cardboard boxes File folders Greeting cards (with proper drying and finishing) This closed-loop system reduces reliance on virgin trees, lowers paper import costs which extends to exporting, and creates a sustainable source of new paper products.

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

Our project tackles two critical, interconnected issues: Environmental Degradation through Deforestation: The massive daily consumption of paper, estimated at 19.3 Billion A4 sheets, fuels a demand for wood pulp. This translates to the felling of millions of trees annually. Unsustainable logging practices disrupt ecosystems, endanger wildlife habitats, and contribute to climate change. Preserving forests is vital for maintaining healthy air and water quality, regulating local temperatures, and mitigating floods. Economic Burden on Developing Countries: Nations that lack domestic paper production capacity are forced to rely on imports. This creates a financial strain, as they must spend valuable foreign currency on a basic necessity. Additionally, fluctuations in global paper prices can further strain their economies. Promoting local paper recycling lessens dependence on imports and provides a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.

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

Protects Forests & Ecosystems: By reducing reliance on virgin trees for paper, we safeguard vital forests. These ecosystems provide clean air and water, regulate local temperatures, and offer vital habitats for wildlife. Combats Climate Change: Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Recycling paper helps mitigate climate change by reducing emissions associated with deforestation. The project also promotes sustainability through resource efficiency: Reduces Reliance on Virgin Materials: Recycling paper minimizes the need for new wood pulp, lowering the environmental footprint of paper production. Lowers Import Costs: Developing countries like our country that import paper can benefit from our project. Local paper recycling reduces dependence on imports, saving valuable foreign currency.

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

Our project serves two key groups: Paper Users Nationwide: Everyone who uses paper products, from individuals and households to businesses and institutions, can contribute to a more sustainable future by using our recycled paper products. Women in Need: We aim to create employment opportunities for women facing financial hardship by involving them in the paper collection and sorting process. This empowers women while contributing to our environmental goals. However, due to logistical or safety concerns, we may initially limit the type of waste paper we accept. We'll be transparent about accepted materials and work towards expanding our capabilities in the future.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-01

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.)

Ananiya Sirak , a passionate educator by day and a dedicated volunteer by night, exemplifies the power of youthful drive. His impressive achievements at a young age showcase his ability to excel in diverse endeavors. His fresh perspective and energy will undoubtedly elevate the efficiency and effectiveness of our work. Genet H/Mariam , with over 10 years of experience in the pasta industry, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Her proven track record in co-founding "Quality Lasagna" demonstrates her business acumen and ability to deliver results. Her insights will be invaluable in navigating the complexities of this project.

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?

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

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Our project tackles poverty by empowering women and promoting a circular economy. Women's economic empowerment: We create employment opportunities for women in need through paper collection and sorting. This provides them with a source of income and financial stability, directly contributing to poverty reduction. Circular economy for developing countries: By focusing on paper recycling, we aim to: Reduce reliance on imports: Developing nations like Ethiopia often import paper, straining their economies. Local recycling lessens dependence on imports, saving valuable foreign currency. Promote local production: Our project fosters a domestic paper industry, creating new jobs and economic opportunities within the community. These combined efforts contribute to achieving the UN's No Poverty goal by fostering economic empowerment and building a more sustainable future for developing countries.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Our project contributes indirectly to the Good Health and Well-being goal by promoting a healthy environment. Here's a breakdown of the connection: Reduced Air Pollution: Paper production can generate air pollutants. Recycling reduces the need for new paper production, potentially leading to cleaner air. Cleaner air can improve respiratory health and reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses. Combated Climate Change: Deforestation for paper production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling helps mitigate climate change, which can have positive health impacts like reducing heat-related illnesses and improving air quality. However, it's important to note that the health benefits are indirect and depend on various factors. If your project involves collecting paper waste, you can add a point about ensuring safe handling practices to minimize potential health risks.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Our project tackles a root cause of limited access to educational materials – poverty – by creating a source of income for women in need. This income can empower them to: Afford educational materials: Increased financial stability allows women to invest in essential learning materials like notebooks, pencils, and textbooks for their children. Support their children's education: With a steady income, women can better support their children's educational needs, such as covering school fees or transportation costs. While our recycled paper products themselves aren't directly distributed as educational materials, by addressing poverty, we create an environment where families can better afford these resources. This indirectly contributes to improved access to quality education, aligning with UNICEF's goals.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our project empowers women and promotes gender equality through: Employment opportunities: We create jobs for women in need through paper collection and sorting. This provides them with financial independence and a source of income, fostering economic empowerment. Reduced workload: By creating a local source of recycled paper products, women may spend less time and money searching for or purchasing new paper products. This can alleviate some household burdens, allowing them to focus on education, childcare, or other income-generating activities. Additionally, if your project specifically targets women in marginalized communities or those facing discrimination, you can highlight that aspect as well.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Reduced reliance on fossil fuels: Paper production often relies on fossil fuels for energy. By promoting paper recycling, you decrease demand for virgin paper, which can lead to a lower overall demand for energy in the paper production industry. Indirect impact on renewable energy: The energy used in recycling facilities can potentially come from renewable sources like solar or wind power. As your project encourages paper recycling, it could contribute to a slight increase in demand for renewable energy sources in those facilities. However, it's important to note that the impact on clean energy might be indirect and depend on the specific energy sources used in the recycling process. Here's an additional point to consider: Improved energy efficiency: Modern paper recycling facilities can be quite energy-efficient. By supporting the development of such facilities, your project could contribute to a more sustainable paper industry overall.

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

our project directly contributes to Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8) in several ways: Job creation: Your project creates new employment opportunities for women in need through paper collection, sorting, and potentially even processing (depending on the project scale). This empowers these women and injects income into the local economy. Green jobs: Paper recycling is a form of the green economy, promoting environmental sustainability while creating jobs. This aligns with the growing demand for environmentally conscious industries. Reduced reliance on imports: By establishing local paper recycling, developing countries can lessen their dependence on imported paper. This saves valuable foreign currency and strengthens their economies. Stimulates domestic production: Paper recycling fosters a domestic paper industry, creating new businesses and economic opportunities within the community. This economic growth promotes overall development. By focusing on these aspects,

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

our project directly hits the nail on the head for Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12)! Here's how it justifies its contribution: Reduces reliance on virgin materials: The core principle of your project is paper recycling. This diverts used paper from landfills and transforms it into new products, minimizing the need to cut down trees for virgin wood pulp. This directly reduces resource consumption in paper production. Promotes sustainable production cycles: By creating a closed-loop system for paper, your project fosters a more sustainable production cycle. Recycled paper products require less energy and water compared to those made from virgin materials. Reduces waste generation: Paper waste is a significant contributor to global landfill waste. Paper recycling diverts this waste from landfills, promoting responsible waste management and minimizing environmental impact. Encourages responsible consumption: By providing a readily available source of recycled paper

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Reduces reliance on virgin resources: Making new paper requires cutting down trees, which act as carbon sinks by storing carbon dioxide. Recycling paper reduces the need to cut down trees, thereby helping to maintain these vital carbon stores. Lowers energy consumption: Manufacturing paper from recycled materials uses significantly less energy compared to processing virgin wood pulp. This translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions from the paper industry. Lessens landfill waste: Paper takes up a significant amount of space in landfills. Recycling diverts paper waste from landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Reduces Deforestation: The biggest impact is through reduced demand for virgin wood pulp. Paper production is a major driver of deforestation, which destroys animal habitats and disrupts ecosystems. By recycling paper, we lessen the need to cut down trees, protecting forests and the biodiversity they support. Promotes Sustainable Forest Management: Increased demand for recycled paper can incentivize sustainable forestry practices. Forests can be managed for selective logging with replanting programs, ensuring a long-term supply of wood pulp while minimizing environmental damage. Protects Soil Health: Deforestation leads to soil erosion, impacting plant growth and disrupting the delicate balance of land ecosystems. Reduced deforestation through paper recycling helps to maintain healthy soil, which is crucial for a variety of life forms on land.

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Our main products are paper, Carton, Paper bags, cards, box files and related paper products. However the key factor that make our product different from others is that our products are recycled from previously defected papers which were a waste one time. This will keep our environment clean and green, create employment, decrease the expenditure of USD for Importing paper and related products in the mean time increase USD in exporting our Product.

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

In the current market with a USD shortage, traditional paper importers face challenges. Here's how we stand out: Consistent Supply: Unlike importers who may experience delays due to currency fluctuations, we offer a reliable and consistent supply of paper products manufactured domestically. This ensures we have the resources our customers need by the time they call for. Affordability: Imported paper carries a high cost burden due to acquisition costs, transportation fees, and import duties. We manufacture our products locally, significantly reducing these expenses. This translates to competitive pricing and cost savings for you. Sustainability: Beyond affordability, our focus is on recycled paper. This not only reduces your costs but also demonstrates your commitment to environmental responsibility – a growing concern for many consumers and businesses.

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

I'm confident that my current project will have a significant impact in fostering the role of female entrepreneurs in our community. While there haven't been any specific initiatives focused on this area yet, I believe my project will be the first step in creating a strong support system and promoting their success.