5 Sustainability Entrepreneurs Impacting the Circular Economy and Climate Change
Activism is not enough, we must innovate to create change. Here is a list of five entrepreneurs who are working to impact the circular economy and climate change:
Nzambi Matee, Founder of Gjenge Makers
After observing the large volume of plastic bags polluting the streets of Nairobi, Nzambi Matee, founder of Gjenge Makers, began to experiment in her mother’s garden. She eventually created a machine that compresses discarded plastic and sand into bricks. Matee’s bricks are lighter and more durable than traditional cement, alongside being more affordable. She envisions them being used to pave walkways for homes and schools, especially in low-income areas where students would otherwise be utilizing dirt paths. Her contribution to the circular economy has been recognized by the United Nations, where she has been named a United Nations Environment Programme Young Champion of the Earth.
Tim Sherry, Founder of Carbon Limit
Over 4 billion tons of cement are manufactured annually and the concrete industry contributes to about 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, which is more than aviation fuel. Tim Sherry, a self-taught material scientist, founded Carbon Limit, a company that transforms concrete into a permanent carbon capture and storage solution. A solution is added to cement allowing the concrete to attract, capture, and store carbon dioxide pollution from the atmosphere into the concrete. Sherry wants to “pave the way” to net zero and is making progressive strides as his new technology cuts the carbon footprint by 75%.
Madeline Honingford, Founder of Re Company
The majority of food packaging in the United States is designed for single use and is rarely recycled. Madeline Honingford founded Re Company to supply optimal, high-quality, reusable food packaging for businesses focused on reducing plastic waste. Re Company is about to launch the “Swap Box,” a collapsible, durable lunch box.
Dr. Stephen Mayfield, Founder of Algenesis
Dr. Stephen Mayfield patented the Soleic™Technology, an innovation that produces biodegradable plastic material out of algae, under the company Algensis. Mayfield’s company currently produces footwear and material for surfboards using their new invention.
In Peru, over 2 million citizens lack access to a consistent water source. Hoping to address the water shortage, Max Hidalgo invented Yawa, a technology that makes water out of wind. Yawa uses a turbine to condense vapor from the air and is constructed fully out of recyclable materials with minimal plastic, is easy to operate and repair, and addresses a need while also contributing to the circular economy.