11.5 Current Trends: Green Ideas, Innovations and Businesses in Africa
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many unused resources, including bamboo and water hyacinth prevalent in some
lakes like Lake Victoria in Kenya and Uganda. Tapping on such resources could be
a platform for creating employment and reducing the high poverty levels.
Using this case, describe how Green entrepreneurship could be the solution
to many African problems. What support structures are needed to make this a
success?
11.5.2.7 Eco-Post Kenya, Kenya
In Kenya, Eco-Post Kenya has been instrumental for recycling plastic waste into
sustainable or environmentally friendly fencing posts. Founded by Lorna Rutto, the
company began with a vision for finding solutions to the large quantities of plastic
wastes that filled the streets in her local community. Her love for the environment
and the desire to address the waste problem in Kenya made her venture into
Green entrepreneurship. Eco-Post is a Green business that manufactures durable and
sustainable fencing posts with plastic. It offers an effective solution for managing the
vast plastic generated in Kenya every day (Njeru et al. 2016). In addition, it creates
more than 300 employment opportunities for young individuals and marginalized
women (Hawken 2015). The model seeks to create more than 100,000 jobs in the
next 15 years. Furthermore, the company has had an impressive eco-footprint by
removing more than one million kilograms of plastic waste from the urban slums
in Kenya. It has also saved about 250 acres of vulnerable forests (Hawken 2015).
Eco-Post is a demonstration of the possibility of creating a sustainable business
in sub-Saharan Africa, while simultaneously benefitting the environment and local
communities.
Job creation is at the center of Sustainable Development Goals. Does Green
entrepreneurship lead to the creation of more jobs than normal entrepreneurship? Discuss.
11.5.2.8 Repurpose Schoolbags, South Africa
Finally, the use of solar light technology in upcycled schoolbags has drastically
changed the lives of many schoolchildren in South Africa. The business uses Green
innovations to solve societal problems. It also unearths sustainable opportunities
positively affecting low-income communities, with a specific focus on women and
children. As a Green entrepreneur, Thato Kgthalhanye sought to solve the problem
319
many unused resources, including bamboo and water hyacinth prevalent in some
lakes like Lake Victoria in Kenya and Uganda. Tapping on such resources could be
a platform for creating employment and reducing the high poverty levels.
Using this case, describe how Green entrepreneurship could be the solution
to many African problems. What support structures are needed to make this a
success?
11.5.2.7 Eco-Post Kenya, Kenya
In Kenya, Eco-Post Kenya has been instrumental for recycling plastic waste into
sustainable or environmentally friendly fencing posts. Founded by Lorna Rutto, the
company began with a vision for finding solutions to the large quantities of plastic
wastes that filled the streets in her local community. Her love for the environment
and the desire to address the waste problem in Kenya made her venture into
Green entrepreneurship. Eco-Post is a Green business that manufactures durable and
sustainable fencing posts with plastic. It offers an effective solution for managing the
vast plastic generated in Kenya every day (Njeru et al. 2016). In addition, it creates
more than 300 employment opportunities for young individuals and marginalized
women (Hawken 2015). The model seeks to create more than 100,000 jobs in the
next 15 years. Furthermore, the company has had an impressive eco-footprint by
removing more than one million kilograms of plastic waste from the urban slums
in Kenya. It has also saved about 250 acres of vulnerable forests (Hawken 2015).
Eco-Post is a demonstration of the possibility of creating a sustainable business
in sub-Saharan Africa, while simultaneously benefitting the environment and local
communities.
Job creation is at the center of Sustainable Development Goals. Does Green
entrepreneurship lead to the creation of more jobs than normal entrepreneurship? Discuss.
11.5.2.8 Repurpose Schoolbags, South Africa
Finally, the use of solar light technology in upcycled schoolbags has drastically
changed the lives of many schoolchildren in South Africa. The business uses Green
innovations to solve societal problems. It also unearths sustainable opportunities
positively affecting low-income communities, with a specific focus on women and
children. As a Green entrepreneur, Thato Kgthalhanye sought to solve the problem