In 2022, a group of four university students conceived an idea that would revolutionize agriculture waste management, while simultaneously contributing to economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
Their vision was to utilize agricultural waste, such as pineapple leaves, sugar cane bagasse, and corn husks, to create economically viable products, and at the same time, assist farmers in disposing of their waste.
Eager to bring their idea to life but lacking the necessary funding, the students from the University of Nairobi (UoN) and Kenyatta University (KU) decided to enter a competition to secure the capital they needed.
By early 2023, they headed to Olare in Homa Bay County, Kenya, where they engaged with pineapple farmers, kick-starting their entrepreneurial venture.
Under the banner of “Rethread Africa,” the team aimed to innovate a process that would transform agricultural waste into fibers suitable for making clothing, footwear, and upholstery materials, including vehicle interiors.
Their ambition was not merely to create products but to witness Kenyans wearing clothes or decorating their vehicles with fibers sourced from their innovative process.
At the core of their enterprise was a desire to improve the livelihoods of people in their communities. By focusing on sugar cane bagasse and corn husks from Migori county, where sugarcane and maize were abundant, they set out on a journey of growth and learning.
Over the past four months, the team successfully processed 150 kilograms of pineapple leaves into fabric suitable for clothing. This achievement affirmed the viability of their concept, and they are now poised to launch the initiative on an industrial scale by the end of the year.
Their fabric-making process begins at the farms, where organized groups of farmers within a 30-kilometer radius bring the agricultural waste to a designated model farmer’s homestead. Here, Rethread Africa sets up its equipment to process the waste into fabric. Harvesting pineapple leaves between 12 and 18 months helps to improve the fruit’s health as nutrients are redirected to the fruit.
The leaves undergo sorting before being fed into an extractor, which yields fibers and other plant materials. The fibers are then washed, dried, and spun into yarn, ready to be sold to weaving facilities.
The team’s achievements have not gone unnoticed, as they were recently awarded the prestigious Global Change Award, which brought them 29 million Kenyan Shillings. With this funding, they plan to expand their operations on a larger scale and ensure a more sustainable approach to their endeavors.
Rethread Africa recognizes that they are part of a larger value chain and intends to focus on research and development, providing raw materials for Kenya’s apparel industry. They seek partnerships with potential buyers to bring their fabric to the market, with discussions already underway with interested players like Hugo Boss and Savannah Sands.
Curbing agricultural waste holds immense promise for Nigeria and Africa. By emulating the success of Rethread Africa, not only can they foster economic growth and environmental protection, but also build a thriving local garments industry.
Embracing sustainability and supporting ventures that tackle agricultural waste will pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for the entire continent.