By Obiabin Onukwugha
In Uganda, a young entrepreneur Juliet Tumusiime, is making significant impact by embarking on eco-friendly business that does not only meet the needs of women, but contribute to combating environmental waste pollution.
Tumusiime is the founder of Cheveux Organique, a Uganda-based manufacturing firm that produces eco-friendly hair extensions made from banana fibres, a venture that offers sustainable alternative to synthetic options.
Extensions are typically made from human hair or synthetic materials. Although synthetics are popular in Uganda due to their lower cost, they are neither biodegradable nor easy to recycle, and some users report scalp irritation from these materials.
Cheveux Organique prides itself in producing biodegradable hair extensions that are made from a variety of 100% locally sourced Ugandan banana fibre. These products are durable, eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, non-irritating, do not produce bad odour, are reusable, and can be managed like natural hair.
Tumusiime in a recent interview with how we made it in Africa, stated that she caught the vision in 2012, while working with USAID. “I participated in a project focused on plantations and banana farmers. It was during this project that I observed how farmers utilised only the fruit of the banana plant, leaving the stems unused. This observation sparked my interest in exploring ways to repurpose these discarded stems..
“Motivated by this discovery, I conducted extensive research into potential uses for banana stems. This endeavour ultimately led to the founding of Cheveux Organique in 2015,” she said.
She stated that Cheveux Organique was founded with a vision to create eco-friendly hair extensions and crafts from banana fibre while supporting local farmers.
According to her, the journey began with thorough research into sustainable materials and their applications, and subsequently forged partnerships with farmers in the Mukono and Bunyangabu Districts [in Uganda] to source banana stems, a crucial step for both our supply chain and community support.
Tumusiime mentioned that Cheveux Organique collaborates with local banana farmers by purchasing stems. These stems are then split open, and the fibres are mechanically extracted. Once the fibres are obtained, they undergo a drying and treatment process. Finally, the treated fibres are carefully combed to achieve a hair-like texture.
She also mentioned that this is the best alternative to mass-produced plastic synthetic hair extensions, which have generated millions of kilos of waste, impacting our environment in unimaginable ways. The customer will have the opportunity to make healthy choices for their beauty and for the environment, according to her.
She revealed that her initial challenges included setting up processing infrastructure and acquiring an extraction machine.
Another challenge was turning banana waste into a premium product, particularly in the production process. The operation is labour-intensive, involving the careful selection and transportation of banana stems, followed by the extraction and treatment of fibres, which requires significant energy to power the machinery. And each step adds to the production costs, ultimately making the final product more expensive.
“Through rigorous testing and valuable customer feedback, we refined our products and achieved a successful market launch. Funding from institutions like the National Social Security Fund enabled us to expand operations and invest in advanced machinery.
“Our enhanced online presence and physical outlet have significantly increased visibility and customer reach. Despite challenges such as mechanical disruptions, our strategic planning and resilience have helped us navigate obstacles effectively,” Tumusiime revealed.
Looking ahead, the Cheveux Organique CEO plans to further expand her market presence, enhance our online platform, and continue our commitment to supporting local farmers and communities.