Meet the 10 Finalists for the Afri-Plastics Challenge

The second Afri-Plastics Challenge, which promotes eco-friendly ways to lessen our reliance on plastic trash, has announced its ten finalists.

Thanks to financing from the Government of Canada, the Afri-Plastics Challenge, run by London-based innovation specialists Challenge Works, is combating the epidemic of plastic pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Each finalist will receive GBP75,000 (US$90,000) to support and grow their respective ideas. In January 2023, the winner will get the first prize of GBP750,000 (US$900,000), followed by the runner-up with GBP250,000 (US$300,000), and the third-place finisher with GBP100,000 (US$120,000).

The finalists are the Naza Agape Foundation of Nigeria, Chemolex of Kenya, the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), SHE ECO RESPONSE of South Africa, Toto Safi of Rwanda, Lwanda Biotech of Kenya, Regenize of South Africa, EcoCoCo Homecare of Kenya, Well of Science of Nigeria, and Derocolbags Packaging Limited Company of Ghana.

“To maintain resilient, sustainable communities, the threat of plastic trash in the environment must be completely eliminated. This necessitates innovative solutions that challenge conventional wisdom. Constance Agyeman, director of international development at Challenge Works, said that today’s finalists “are leading the way in dramatically reducing the volumes of plastic entering the economy to bear down on the avalanche of plastic waste that is engulfing Africa and its precious marine ecosystems.”