Pneedles

With about 2.5 million tons of plastic waste produced annually, Nigeria ranks 9th globally among countries with the highest contributions to plastic pollution. Unfortunately, over 88% of the plastic waste generated in Nigeria is not recycled because of the lack of adequate waste management and recycling facilities. Instead, much of it ends up in the environment & water bodies. Plastic pollution is linked to myriads of problems in Nigeria including malaria: plastic waste in drainages or in the environment causes stagnant water which serve as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization(WHO) 2023 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest malaria cases(26.8%) and death rate(31.1%) in 2022 with 78% malaria deaths among children under the age of 5. Plastic pollution also causes flooding, environmental pollution and degradation.

Meanwhile, the fashion industry is struggling to address its wide reaching negative impacts as its unsustainable production and consumption patterns has led to a triple planetary crisis of faster climate change, biodiversity loss and increased pollution levels. The textile value chain is estimated to be responsible for between 2% and 8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as significant pollution, water extraction and biodiversity impacts, including 215 trillion liters of water consumed per year (the equivalent of 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools), and 9% of annual microfiber pollution to oceans according to a UNEP report.

In order to address the plastic pollution crises in Nigeria while enabling the fashion industry to adopt sustainable design, production & consumption practices, we collect plastic waste and recycle it into sustainable buttons for the fashion industry.

We use AI algorithms to analyze historical data on waste generation, population density, and traffic patterns to optimize waste collection routes - this helps identify the most efficient routes to take for collection thereby enabling us to save time & resources and minimize emissions from vehicles. 

We then use AI-based image recognition technology and robotics to automate the waste sorting process at our recycling facility.

Thereafter, we shred the plastics, clean them & utilize manufacturing technology to transform the plastic waste into sustainable buttons for the fashion industry.

Our solution serves fashion brands within and outside Nigeria that are looking for sustainable materials to incorporate into their production processes. There is significant increase in demand for sustainable fashion & the global Sustainable Fashion market size was valued at USD 7695.72 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.46% during the forecast period, reaching USD 13236.88 million by 2031. Our product helps the fashion industry source ethically and responsibly and also enables them incorporate circular design practices into their production processes.

We also serve the waste pickers/scavengers, recyclers and waste management companies we work with by creating a steady market for the plastic waste they collect leading to more stable and potentially higher incomes for them.

We're also working on providing the waste pickers with PPEs, banking services, insurance, education/upskilling, etc. For example we're working on training programs where waste pickers can be trained in waste sorting with robotics to enable us absorb them into our company to work in the sorting department with our robots and earn higher incomes.

We're an award-winning team of 4 people with over 6 years of combined experience in fashion, sustainability, circular economy, technology and manufacturing. Our founder has previously won the Circular Lagos Award 2022 & recently won the 2024 Lagos Ambassador of Circular Economy Award from the Waste Management Society of Nigeria(WAMASON).

From day one we built & constantly improved the product based off the feedback of stakeholders in the fashion industry & we're being guided & supported in different ways by the following organizations:

• Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa via the UK-NG Circular Fashion Global Innovation Network.
• African Development Bank(AFDB) & the Creative Economy Practice of the CCHub via the Fashionomics Africa program.
• Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC)
• Lagos Fashion Week - Africa's biggest fashion week event.
• Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy through the 3MTT program.

Together we're working towards a more sustainable fashion industry and a cleaner Nigeria.

Currently we've sold over 10 dozens of buttons to 2 customers and we've signed up over 500+ brands on our waitlist.

We partnered with the Lagos Fashion Week, the biggest fashion week in Africa to train designers on how to design sustainably using sustainable materials. This enabled us reach hundreds of designers.

It is difficult to raise financing for startups here in Nigeria and more difficult if your business is not 100% software based. The funding will enable us scale our production to meet pre-existing and future demand.

Also, we need strong introductions to the big fashion brands so they can switch their supply chain from buttons made from virgin plastics to sustainable buttons made from plastic waste.

1. Circular Economy Approach: By repurposing plastic waste into buttons for the fashion industry, we're contributing to a circular economy model where materials are reused and recycled, reducing the reliance on virgin resources and minimizing waste.

2. Sustainable Sourcing: Our solution addresses the growing demand for sustainable materials in the fashion industry by offering buttons made from recycled plastic, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional buttons made from virgin materials therefore contributing to a greener supply chain for the fashion industry.

3. Social Impact: Our solution directly benefits waste pickers and scavengers by creating a market for the materials they collect, thereby improving their livelihoods and working conditions. This social impact aspect sets our solution apart by addressing both environmental and social challenges simultaneously.

4. Consumer Awareness: By promoting the use of eco-friendly buttons and raising awareness about the environmental impact of fashion production, our solution educates consumers and encourages responsible consumption habits, fostering a more environmentally conscious market.

5. Collaborative Approach: Our solution involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including waste pickers, recycling networks, suppliers, fashion brands, and consumers. This collaborative approach fosters partnerships and synergies across different sectors, amplifying the impact of our solution and driving systemic change.

6. Innovation in Manufacturing: Developing efficient processes for recycling plastic waste and manufacturing high-quality buttons requires innovation in materials science, engineering, and production techniques. Our solution demonstrates innovation in these areas, leading to the creation of a novel product with tangible environmental and social benefits. We're utilizing technologies such as AI, blockchain, robotics, etc.

Overall, our solution's combination of environmental sustainability, social impact, consumer awareness, and collaborative approach makes it innovative and impactful in addressing the challenges faced by the fashion industry and plastic waste management.

Here's an outline of our theory of change -our pathway to our desired outcomes:

1. Input/Resources:

   • We collect plastic waste from various sources, including waste pickers, recycling facilities, land & ocean cleanup campaigns and consumer collections.
   • We invest in research and development to develop efficient processes for recycling and manufacturing buttons from recycled plastic.

2. Activities:

   • We collaborate with waste pickers, recycling networks, and suppliers to establish a consistent supply chain of plastic waste.
   • We implement sustainable manufacturing practices to produce high-quality buttons from recycled plastic.
   • We continuously engage with fashion brands and consumers to promote the adoption of eco-friendly buttons and raise awareness about the environmental benefits of using recycled materials. This is done via social media, workshops, etc.

3. Outputs:

   • We manufacture and distribute buttons made from recycled plastic to fashion brands and manufacturers.
   • We establish partnerships and networks within the fashion industry and sustainability sector to promote our products and mission.

4. Outcomes:

   • Increased demand for recycled plastic waste, providing waste pickers and scavengers with more reliable income opportunities.
   • Reduction in plastic pollution and environmental impact by diverting plastic waste from landfills and oceans.
   • Improved reputation and sustainability credentials for fashion brands that adopt our eco-friendly buttons, leading to consumer preference and market differentiation.

5. Impact:

   • Improved livelihoods and working conditions for waste pickers and scavengers, contributing to poverty alleviation and social inclusion.
   • Reduction in carbon emissions and resource consumption associated with button manufacturing, contributing to climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability.
   • Shift towards a more circular economy within the fashion industry, promoting responsible design, consumption and production practices.

SDG 1:

• 1.1.1 & 1.2.1 & 1.2.2: We’re reducing the population of people living in Nigeria living below the poverty line by providing a means of income for waste pickers.

SDG 3:

• 3.3.3: By reducing plastic pollution we’re helping reduce malaria incidences per 1,000 population in Nigeria

• 3.9: We’re reducing the mortality rate associated with air pollution from burning of plastic waste & water pollution stemming from plastics & microplastics.

SDG 5:

• 5.1, 5.5, 5.a, 5.b & 5.c: Majority of our waste pickers supply chain is powered by women; we provide them with the necessary tools to enable them succeed  and we don’t discriminate against them in terms of pay or any other form.

SDG 6:

• 6.3, 6.6 & 6.b: We enable local communities to participate in the process of preventing water pollution & protecting water ecosystems by educating them about the harmful effects of plastic pollution, encouraging & incentivizing recycling.

SDG 8

• 8.4: By utilizing plastic waste as our raw materials for manufacturing we’re improving global resource efficiency in our production processes and ensuring there’s sustainable economic growth that’s totally decoupled from environmental degradation.

• 8.5 & 8.6: We’re providing decent jobs for women and youth in the waste management sector.

SDG 9

• 9.2: Our activities help increase manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP & per capita & also manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment.

• 9.4: We adopt more environmentally sound production processes that help reduce carbon emissions.

SDG 11

• 11.6: Our activities contribute to the sustainable management of the plastic waste generated in Lagos & other neighboring cities.

SDG 12

• 12.2: By utilizing plastic waste as raw materials, we eliminate the need to extract new resources thereby contributing to the sustainable management of natural resources.

• 12.4: We’re preventing the release of plastic waste into soil and water by sustainably collecting & recycling them into buttons

• 12.5: Our recycling activities help reduce waste generation & increase the national recycling rate significantly.

• 12.6 & 12.7: By providing buttons made from plastic waste for fashion businesses, we’re enabling them to adopt circular procurement practices in their supply chain.

SDG 13:

• 13.3: We educate fashion brands on how their current activities contribute to climate change and how they can switch to more sustainable practices that are beneficial to their businesses, the people & the planet.

SDG 14:

• 14.1 & 14.2: Our activities contribute to the reduction of marine plastic pollution & protection of marine &  coastal ecosystems.

SDG 15:

• 15.3: Our activities help prevent & reduce land & soil degradation from microplastics.

SDG 17:

• 17.11: By exporting our products to other countries, we’re contributing to the increase of exports by developing countries such as Nigeria where we’re based.

We use AI & data science to track land & marine pollution hotspots thereby enabling us know where to target clean-up & waste collection efforts. We also use these technologies to predict areas of high plastic waste availability based on factors including such as availability of collection programs, population, etc.  This helps optimize collection, reduce fuel consumption & emissions from vehicles used in transporting these waste from the source to our recycling facilities as the entire process is optimized with data.

We leverage AI-powered robots to sort these waste at our facilities; we then employ manufacturing technology to shred and transform the waste into buttons.

We utilize blockchain technology to enable traceability of our products so our customers are sure that our buttons are sustainably made from 100% recycled plastic waste. 

Full time - 2

Part time - 5

others - 120

6 months

With a team of 70% women & 30% men, we're heavy on diversity, inclusion, and fair treatment of all our workers irrespective of sex, ethnicity, religion, etc.

We generate revenue from direct sales of our buttons to fashion businesses.

We're already generating revenue from sales of our sustainable buttons to fashion brands. We also intend to access grant, debt and equity financing to scale our operations & increase our revenue.