It is estimated that in Kenya alone, about 80,000 tons of pineapple waste is produced monthly. The waste is either eliminated through burning or decomposition, releasing tons of carbon dioxide and methane gas. However, entrepreneurs are coming up with innovative ideas aiming at utilising food waste for valuable products.
Pine Kazi is a business venture in Kenya that has joined the global fashion industry bandwagon that, in the wake of climate change, is turning environmental waste into eco-friendly products to suit the needs of the emerging eco conscious millennial customers.
In this, the startup which was started in 2019 by then a young team of students; Olivia Awuor, Angela Nzomo, Mike Langat, and Gilbert Kiplangat, from African Nazarene University converts pineapple leaves and recycled rubber into fashionable footwear making it the first enterprise in Kenya to make eco-friendly shoes even from pineapple leaves.
Source: farmersreviewafrica.com