Kenya - Business creation project

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

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

01.01 Décrivez votre projet en détail

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 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

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 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service que vous souhaitez fournir par votre projet (au moins 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 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adressera le produit/service de votre projet. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

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 Quand avez-vous commencé à travailler sur votre projet ?

10/08/2023

01.06 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires sur votre projet en plus de vous ?

2

01.07 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

1

01.08 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre projet (compétences, expérience, 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 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

01.10 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre projet ?

a) Énergie (équipements, services, énergie durable et fossiles)

02.01.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

5

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

5

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

6

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Éducaiton de Qualité'

2

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.05.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

6

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

6

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

6

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovaiton et Infrastructure'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

5

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

6

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsable'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Luttle contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

4

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projetp contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

5

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

3

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.17.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

3

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

05.01 Il existe un grand nombre de clients qui utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire à celui que nous envisageons de créer.

3

05.02 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

6

05.03 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

6

05.04 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

2

05.05 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

2

05.06 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

05.07 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

2

05.08 Justification de mon projet

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 Qui sont vos principaux potentiels concurrents et qu'est-ce qui vous différencie d'eux ?

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

10.06 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes 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.