Kenya - Business creation project

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Eco Nasi is creating a novel vegan leather alternative for the fashion industry and beyond by turning pineapple pulp waste into a new type of biodegradable soil enriching leather material while using fewer resources and actually regenerating nature.

01.01 Décrivez votre projet en détail

Eco Nasi leather is a novel, bio-based vegan leather alternative made from industrial pineapple pulp waste that contains zero plastic and no animal by products. We are the first and only company in the world to develop a technology that can do this. Our innovative material not only mimics the aesthetic and functional properties of traditional leather but also offers a sustainable and cruelty free option that aligns with the growing eco-conscious consumer base. Through a proprietary, patent-pending process, we extract cellulose fibers from the pineapple pulp and combine them with biodegradable composite resins to create a durable, flexible, and natural-looking material that feels and performs like animal leather. The leather can then be used for various applications in the clothing, footwear and automotive industry. Once the product reaches its end life it can easily decompose in 180 days under controlled conditions leaving no harmful chemicals and microplastics behind.

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

The traditional leather industry is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, climate change, deforestation, and water pollution. This industry relies heavily on resource-intensive and polluting processes, including the rearing of livestock, the use of toxic chemicals in tanning, and significant water consumption, which collectively contributes to substantial ecological harm. The leather industry is responsible for approximately 18% of global industrial water pollution and ranks as the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the textile sector, accounting for 5% of global emissions. According to UNEP, producing one leather handbag requires 18,000 litres of fresh water, which is enough water to cater to one person for 25 years. But this just one part of the problem. An estimated 80-90 percent of leather is treated with chromium; a harmful carcinogenic compound that causes serious respiratory issues, including pneumonia and lung cancer among leather tannery workers.

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).

Eco Nasi leather is one hundred percent bio based. It contains no harmful chemicals and heavy metals therefore it can fully decompose within 180 days leaving no harmful microplastics behind. The bio-based nature of our product also prevents skin irritations to consumers. Eco Nasi is a high-performance bio-based leather that feels, performs and behaves like real animal leather but without the environmental impact of raising livestock which aligns perfectly with the values of sustainable brands and consumers. Eco Nasi leather is versatile. It can be cut and stitched into various patterns and also customized into different colors, textures and finishings. This makes our material ideal for use across multiple industries such as fashion, automotive, household & interior etc.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adressera le produit/service de votre projet. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

With our innovation Eco Nasi leather, we will target a diverse range of B2B customers across various sectors that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices. Our primary focus is on sustainable premium fashion brands across the footwear and handbag sectors, automotive companies focused on producing eco-friendly and luxury interiors, wristwatch manufacturers who value innovative timepieces made of high-quality materials that differentiate their products in a competitive market and individual designers who are looking for novel materials that can help them create exclusive, eco-friendly fashion items. They are early adopters of sustainable materials and prioritize quality, aesthetic appeal, and environmental impact in their designs. Our last target group are international corporates like UNEP and British Council seeking sustainable gifts and office items such as diaries covered with sustainable leather. We are positioning our business as a B2B wholesale leather material supplier.

01.05 Quand avez-vous commencé à travailler sur votre projet ?

01/11/2023

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.).

Angela Nzomo who is in charge of operations, is a final year student at the Africa Nazarene University studying bachelor of commerce. Angela has an extensive background in research studies and marketing. She has previously volunteered in both local and International NGOs' such as SAYDS. Also, Angela has over four years’ experience in entrepreneurship co-founding a social enterprise called Pine Kazi. She is skilled at report and proposal writing. Mike Langat is a final year student at the Africa Nazarene University studying International Business Management with a background in Finance, accounting and computer science. He has four years’ experience in social entrepreneurship previously running Pine Kazi company as a co-founder. Mike is skilled at financial reporting and project management.

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 :

https://www.econasi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/econasi_kenya?igsh=NWZ5MzEydGZ1N2R4 https://www.linkedin.com/company/econasi/

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

Autre : circular economy and manufacturing(i.e leather production )

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Our vegan leather startup helps to eradicate poverty across all levels by creating sustainable income generating opportunities across our value chain. We work together with small-scale pineapple farmers in Thika, who provide us with pineapple pulp waste, our main raw material resource and are in turn compensated for their valuable produce. By doing this, we provide them with additional income streams that they can use to fend for their families. Furthermore, we empower socially and economically disadvantaged women and unemployed youth, who live on less than one dollar a day, by offering them sustainable job opportunities. Our holistic approach helps lift vulnerable communities out of poverty, fostering economic growth and stability.

02.02.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

2

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Although our manufacturing process does not use any toxic chemicals or emit harmful gases into the environment, we have put in place safety measures to ensure the communities we work with are protected. The first protective measure we take is ensuring worker protection. Along our supply chain, we prioritize ethical practices and safe working conditions for our workers. We provide safety kits and a standard health insurance to all workers directly involved in the production process. By eliminating, toxic chemicals and metals in our production process we ensure the health and well being of our workers is protected. Additionally, to protect the communities we work with, our production center is located far away from human settlements. By creating sustainable bio based vegan leather, we contribute to customer safety as the absence of harmful chemicals reduce potential allergy risks to consumers. These actions, collectively promote good health and well being for all.

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'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Our sustainable vegan leather startup is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity in entrepreneurship. We recognize that diversity is a powerful catalyst for innovation and economic growth in any societal set up. In terms of gender, we believe that women have a key role to play in the fight against climate change. Therefore, we make it a priority to invest in and empower women providing them with skills, income and dignity. By partnering with local communities where pineapples are grown, we create employment opportunities for women, allowing them to become active contributors to their households and beyond. We strongly believe that gender equality and economic empowerment are essential pillars for creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. Fifty percent of our workforce will be comprised of women.

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

5

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

The leather industry significantly contributes to the global water crisis as a result of the pollution caused by toxic chemical discharge in rivers and the huge amounts of water used during the tanning process. Our process reduces water use by 97% and completely eliminates toxic waste. By 2027 Eco Nasi will save 6 billion tons of water which is more than enough drinking water to cater to one person for 25 years. Also,Eco Nasi leather completely eliminates toxic waste which prevents chemicals and heavy metals from leaking into water sources. By ensuring less and responsible water use in our production process we indirectly contribute to this goal.

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

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Across our value chain we work with small scale pineapple farmers, disconnected unemployed youths who live under one dollar a day and women groups who are mainly victims of domestic violence. Despite having abundant natural resources, such as pineapple pulp agrowaste, these communities often face economic instability due to limited access to markets, lack of value addition to their products, and insufficient income-generating activities. Our startup addresses this challenge by upcycling pineapple pulp waste into high-quality vegan leather, creating a product that is not only environmentally friendly but also opens up new avenues for economic growth. By partnering with these local communities, we provide training and employment opportunities, enabling them to transform what would be waste into a valuable commodity. Furthermore, we ensure ethical, fair wages and safe working conditions for our workers.

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 vegan leather startup contributes to industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by pioneering a novel technology that efficiently and cost-effectively converts pineapple post-harvest waste into sustainable, biodegradable leather. This innovative process reduces carbon emissions by 95%, conserves water use by 97%, and completely eliminates toxic waste, promoting sustainable industrial practices. By transforming agricultural waste into a valuable material, we foster sustainable industrialization, support resilient infrastructure, and drive technological innovation, setting a new standard for environmentally responsible manufacturing in the leather industry.

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

2

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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

5

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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

By upcycling pineapple pulp waste, a by-product which would otherwise be burnt or thrown away, into biodegradable vegan leather, we not only minimize the need for using new synthetic materials but also reduce landfill use. Eco Nasi is creating a new circular economy for leather materials by transforming waste into a valuable biodegradable material, encouraging a lifecycle approach to consumption where products are reused, recycled, and reintegrated back into the production cycle. Eco Nasi ensures responsible production by reducing water use by 97% and CO2 by 95%. Eco Nasi leather is free from harmful chemicals and heavy metals commonly used in traditional leather tanning. Our use of bio waste as the main raw material and natural polymers prevents toxic waste generation and ensures cleaner production. By creating a sustainable and cruelty-free vegan leather alternative we align with ethical consumption trends, catering to consumers who are conscious about animal rights and welfare.

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

Creating long lasting impact is the mission we are truly dedicated to. Compared to animal leather, Eco Nasi leather has a significantly lower environmental impact. Our material reduces water use by 97%, carbon emissions by 95% and completely eliminates toxic waste. Tanning one kg of animal leather uses up to 250 liters of fresh water while crafting one kg of eco nasi leather uses 8.7 liters of water. Therefore, our initiative directly contributes to water conservation especially at a time when water scarcity is a pressing global concern. By 2027 Eco Nasi leather will save 6 billion tons of water which is enough to cater for six million people annually. The traditional leather production process produces significant amounts of carbon emissions. Our leather slashes carbon emissions by 95%. By 2027 Eco Nasi leather will save 19.9k tons of carbon (IV)oxide. This reduction not only benefits the community but also contributes significantly towards the global fight against climate change.

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

5

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

The leather industry including synthetic and hide leather is a threat to marine life due to the toxic chemicals, metals and harmful microplastics that are discharged into river sources as waste. This waste is a threat to marine life creatures. Eco Nasi is manufactured through a sustainable process that uses one hundred percent bio based materials and no toxic waste is produced in the process. Therefore, there is no risk involved in polluting water sources. Moreover, Eco Nasi leather is one hundred percent bio based. It takes 180 days to fully degrade leaving no harmful microplastics behind that could leak into water sources.

02.15.01 Mon projetp contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

6

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

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

2

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'

6

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

At Eco Nasi we believe innovation, partnerships and collaboration fuels progress. Through collaborative action we create a synergetic eco system where each stakeholder plays a significant role. We have currently partnered with 10 small scale pineapple farmers from Thika, who supply us with our main raw material resource. We are also working with large scale pineapple processing corporations such as Delmonte who are key partners in ensuring a stable supply chain. Women groups who are our major labor service providers are empowered through employment opportunities in our production process. Finally, collaboration efforts with global material research institutions such as central leather research institute in India and Center for nanotechnology and smart materials in Portugal ensures product quality and continuous material innovation.

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

5

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

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

6

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.

6

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

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

05.08 Justification de mon projet

The innovative concept of our solution lies in the use of pineapple pulp waste as a sustainable alternative feedstock for leather manufacturing. We looked around our community, identified something that was once considered waste and turned it into something useful that not only impacts the environment but the community. The pineapple fruit is one of the widely consumed tropical fruits in the world and its byproduct, the leaves and pulp, usually go to waste after processing. However, we discovered that these leaves and pulp contain a strong cellulose content suitable for leather production. We are the first and only business in the world to come up with a technology that can convert pineapple pulp waste into leather that is both cruelty-free and biodegradable. By harnessing the regenerative potential of pineapple pulp waste, we not only reduce agricultural waste but also minimize the need for synthetic and harmful materials that negatively impact the environment and damage the ecosystem

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

There are other vegan leather alternatives like leather leaf, polybion, pinatex, Muskin, Desserto, Beyond leather, Biophilica and Mycoworks using technologies like cultured animal cells, genetically engineered bacteria cellulose, engineered collagen cow cells and lab grown mycelium. These technologies require substantial capital investment in infrastructure, making scalability challenging and operating costs relatively high. What we are doing is very different, we are using an abundant and underutilized waste material resource as our main raw material which makes us more sustainable, scalable and affordable. Furthermore, majority of vegan leathers that claim to be sustainable, either contain a PU or PVC coating meaning that they cannot decompose. Eco Nasi leather is one hundred percent bio based and can fully decompose within 180 days leaving no harmful microplastics behind.

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

Yes, I am actively engaged in promoting the role of female entrepreneurs in my community. Through my vegan leather startup, we are currently working with Kee women group in Machakos county. These women are mainly victims of domestic violence and often face challenges in getting stable job opportunities. We train these women with hands on skills in leather making production, design and crafting. Later, we provide them with job opportunities at Eco Nasi. Through this skills, they can craft products from other sustainable materials and create goods which they can later sell and earn an income for themselves. Apart from leather production training, we offer training and mentorship opportunities aimed at enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to start and manage their own businesses. By creating a supportive network and facilitating access to resources, we strive to foster a thriving community of female entrepreneurs, driving economic growth and gender equality.