Yunus Environment Hub supports women social business entrepreneurs by enabling them to turn innovative ideas into tangible solutions.
We are pleased to share the remarkable journeys of three inspiring women who are shaping a more sustainable future through the adoption and implementation of inclusive circular social business models.
- Lucy Ngorongo – Founder of Junky Bins Company Limited
Lucy Ngorongo, an alumna of the SHE Stars – See Her Empowered Program, embodies the spirit of environmental stewardship in Kenya. Her company, Junky Bins Company Limited, takes a proactive approach to organic and inorganic waste in Kenyan communities.
Junky Bins provides the communities she serves with comprehensive services such as waste collection, sorting, transportation, and recycling. Their commitment to providing solutions to the waste crisis in Kenya goes beyond mere waste collection. Before, mixed household waste often ended up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and resource depletion. They saw an opportunity to better manage organic waste, which left untreated can lead to significant problems in local and global environments, such as emissions of greenhouse gas, and contamination of soil and local water sources. Through knowledge and skills acquired from the program, the company has taken their waste management a step further and is converting organic waste to manure thereby improving the soil structure and avoiding carbon loss to the atmosphere.
- 2. Nina Heine – Co-Founder and CEO of SHIT2POWER
Nina Heine’s journey epitomises innovation in wastewater management. As the Co-Founder and CEO of SHIT2POWER, Nina converts wastewater treatment sludge into renewable energy and phosphorus, offering a sustainable solution to municipalities and wastewater treatment plants.
SHIT2POWER’s approach aligns with EU regulations while providing a scalable container system for small wastewater treatment plants. By creating a profitable revenue source from wastewater treatment sludge, Nina’s social business not only addresses environmental challenges but also promotes energy independence and resource recovery. Through the participation in our CirculaRise Accelerator Program in Germany, Nina is looking to launch modularised and portable container processing plants.
- 3. Louisa Gathecha – Co-Founder and CEO of Bottle Logistics E.A. LTD
Louisa Gathecha, Co-Founder and CEO of Bottle Logistics E.A. LTD participated in CirculaRise Kenya Accelerator program. She leads the charge in recovering and recycling glass and aluminum waste, processing it into glass cullet, reusable glass bottles, and aluminium ingots. Bottle Logistics plays a crucial role in reducing pollution, having diverted over 5600 tons of waste from landfills.
Bottle Logistics reduces the use of virgin materials through their core business. The production of glass and aluminum from raw materials is energy-intensive and generates greenhouse gas emissions, so by utilizing recycled materials, Bottle Logistics reduces the carbon footprint associated with the production process. They also have a returnable system in place for beverage companies to reuse bottles. As a part of CirculaRise, they identified an opportunity to improve their bottle washing system to save water. This will help increase revenue, improve resource use and efficiencies. Through their combined offerings, Bottle Logistics have averted over 760 tons of CO2 emissions.
These stories exemplify the transformative power of women in leadership and driving social business solutions to the environmental crisis. We are celebrating the achievements of women like Lucy, Nina, and Louisa, whose dedication and persistence inspire us to build a more inclusive, sustainable and healthier planet.
As Yunus Environment Hub we will continue supporting and nurturing women social business entrepreneurs, fostering a community of change-makers committed to creating a better future for our planet. Through our CirculaRise programs, our aim is to support the socio-ecological economy transformation through the adoption and implementation of socially inclusive, circular economy strategies.
Contact us if you are interested in running an accelerator or academy cohort via info@yunuseh.com