Ecopost and Borealis Take Action Against Plastic Waste and Environmental Degradation in Kenya

Ecopost is driving the circular economy via collecting and recycling plastic waste through a replicable and scalable model, while at the same time creating jobs for operators, plastic waste collectors, and distributors. © Ecopost

(IN BRIEF) Ecopost, a Kenyan company that recycles plastic waste to create eco-friendly alternatives for fencing, signage, and building materials, has partnered with Borealis to boost waste recycling in Kenya and promote a circular economy. Borealis will fund Ecopost’s activities, including capacity building, training, and engaging more waste collectors, as well as funding entrepreneurial start-up kits for marginalized youth and women groups. Both companies share a vision to create a positive socio-economic and environmental impact by stopping waste from leaking into the environment.

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 29-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Borealis, an Austrian chemical company active in the fields of polyolefins and the European front-runner in polyolefins recycling, base chemicals and fertilizers, announces collaboration with Ecopost to drive the circular economy and support marginalized communities in Kenya.

Ecopost, a company that drives a circular economy by collecting and recycling plastic waste, addresses these challenges through its replicable and scalable model. Its solutions offer eco-friendly alternatives to fossil-based plastics for fencing, signage, and building materials, while creating jobs for operators, plastic waste collectors, and distributors.

Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, generates over 2,400 tons of solid waste every day, contributing to the estimated 22,000 tons of waste generated daily in the country. Poverty also poses a challenge, with 36% of Kenyans living below the poverty line and deforestation increasing due to the demand for building materials. 

A key pillar of Ecopost’s business model is working with marginalized youth and women groups who collect, sort, shred, and prepare waste material for producing pellets and plastic lumber. Ecopost formalizes the informal waste-picking community and provides training and capacity building to achieve impact at scale and a fair and regular income to waste pickers.

Borealis, a global provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals, and fertilizers, will fund Ecopost’s activities to boost waste recycling in Kenya and promote a circular economy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Both companies share the same vision to stop waste leaking into the environment and create a positive socio-economic and environmental impact. Borealis will support capacity building, training, and engaging more waste collectors, as well as fund entrepreneurial start-up kits for the youth and women groups, through the Borealis Social Fund, which contributes to the social welfare of communities in three focus areas: education and social integration, water and energy, and waste and resource efficiency.

“We very much welcome Borealis’ support of our activities to implement the selected modules to improve the informal waste collection.”, says Lorna Rutto, CEO of Ecopost Ltd. “The funds will make a positive impact to Ecopost as well as thousands of young people and women in the marginalized areas. It will be incredibly valuable in creating a more positive socio-economic and environmental impact.”

“Mismanaged waste adversely impacts livelihoods, human health and hinders sustainable development. Partnering with Ecopost not only complements Borealis’ vision towards a circular economy, but also helps reducing socio-economic differences, a key target area of the Borealis Social Fund,” Markus Horcher, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis comments.

Media contacts:

Borealis Group media desk

Virginia Wieser, Lena Lehner
Tel: +43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
Email: media@borealisgroup.com

Ecopost Sustainable Living

Jessica Onyonka
Tel +254 721 953 768 (Nairobi, Kenya)
Email: info@ecopost.co.ke

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