ecology Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

Unlocking a Refill and Reuse Revolution within Kenya’s Food & Beverage Industry

1Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News

Unlocking a Refill and Reuse Revolution within Kenya’s Food & Beverage Industry

In the city's bustling lifestyle, takeout packaging in the Food & Beverage industry has to be among the most convenient inventions. As you rush out of the house early on your way to a career-deciding meeting, you pass by your favorite coffee shop and pick up a coffee to-go. It is conveniently packed in an innovative paper cup with a plastic lid. After having your coffee, you responsibly dispose of the cup, hoping it gets to the recyclers, especially the plastic lid, and not in a landfill. Now, assume that there were 100 people with a similar morning routine at one coffee shop in an area with ten shops. In one day, we would possibly have over 1,000 plastic coffee cup lids, which could contribute to the over 1 Million tons of plastic waste produced in Kenya annually. How can we revers...

12Nov

By Josephine WawiraNo Comments

Kenya News

Messing with nature is risky business!

For a long time now, economy and the conservation of biodiversity seemed to be two different worlds. Not many CEOs or financial managers were able to explain how their company’s impact contributed to the loss of species, deforestation or the acidification of oceans. But times have changed. Today, trailblazing entrepreneurs understand that they don’t have to be biologists to recognize the correlation between nature and the economy. In simple terms; on a dead planet, there would be no thriving business. Biodiversity is on the verge of collapse The more we know about nature, the clearer it dawns to us that messing with nature is risky business. Take these instances: We cut down trees to make wood products for sale. In turn, deforestation destroys our essential ecosystem services; and we...

19May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Science, Tech

A Kind of Magic – Cosmetics Packaging Without Microplastic Pollution

Sulapac has launched a ground-breaking innovation. Now, water-based products can be packaged with a new bio-based Sulapac barrier that biodegrades without leaving permanent microplastics behind The barrier is no longer an obstacle The beauty and personal care industry is worth over $500 billion a year and the market is expected to grow annually by 4.75%. Accordingly, the forerunners have eagerly been looking for sustainable packaging solutions. While around 90% of the cosmetics market consist of water-based emulsions, there has not been an alternative for water-based products that biodegrades without leaving permanent microplastics behind. Now, Sulapac has invented a patent-pending material for them. As well as being fully sustainable, the Sulapac barrier fits industry standard requiremen...

23Apr

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business, Fintech

HSBC switches to Recycled Plastic Payment Cards

Transition will reduce CO2 emissions by 161 tonnes a year, and save 73 tonnes of plastic per year HSBC is announcing a new programme to introduce sustainable payment cards across all its global locations. By the end of 2026 it will eliminate single-use PVC plastic, in favour of recycled PVC plastic (rPVC). The programme - which includes HSBC’s debit, credit and commercial cards - is part of the bank’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions and achieve net zero in its operations and supply chain by 2030 or sooner. Working with global cards manufacturer IDEMIA, the bank will introduce new cards gradually across its locations. Rollout started in Malaysia in January 2021 and will continue in Sri Lanka this month; followed by the UK this summer. It will then extend across further countries and...

20Apr

By NJ AyukNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Tanzania News, Uganda News

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania

By NJ Ayuk, Executive President of the African Energy Chamber. If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I’d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and it has done a masterful job of bringing environmental concerns to the world’s attention and keeping them there. The group has a strong track record when it comes to advocacy and awareness, and it has a global reach. It’s truly one of the most visible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world. And that’s why I see it as significant that Greenpeace’s African division has come out swinging for a major new oil pipeline slated for construction in Uganda and Tanzania. Let me explai...

AVEVA’s Third Digital Conference Assembles Environmental Sustainability Experts to Discuss how Technology Is Helping to Lower Carbon Footprint

23Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, Tech

AVEVA’s Third Digital Conference Assembles Environmental Sustainability Experts to Discuss how Technology Is Helping to Lower Carbon Footprint

AVEVA World Digital Conference Convenes Industry leaders to Discuss Emerging Trends, Meeting Sustainability and Business Goals, and The Role of the Connected Workforce in Accelerating the Digital Journey AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, announced its third AVEVA World Digital (AWD) conference, themed ‘Accelerate Your Digital Intelligence' which will take place from 26-28 January 2021. The online event will explore how leading companies are embracing innovation and applying intelligent software to reshape their industrial operations. It will demonstrate how emerging technologies such as AI, Cloud, Digital Twin, Visualization and data & analytics are supporting advancements in sustainability, and enabling organizations to make significant changes to improve ...

Managing the end-of-life of products to accelerate a circular economy in Kenya

19Dec

By Josephine WawiraNo Comments

Kenya News

Managing the end-of-life of products to accelerate a circular economy in Kenya

Studies have shown that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Marine life will be at risk if we do not act to mitigate the improper disposal of plastic. As the world continues struggling with proper waste management, different solutions have been suggested and adopted to manage the end-of-life of products, especially plastic and electronics. In Kenya, plastic waste disposal remains a major challenge. Plastic litter and dumped waste are degrading the environment— the impact of plastic pollution is felt across the world, with over 8 million tonnes of plastic finding its way into oceans every year. Even more troubling is that less than 10% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, while 79% ends up in landfills, dumps, or the natural environment. With the inc...