Mckingtorch: The Social Innovator Creating the Future through Plastic Waste
How great would it be if we lived in a world with zero (or very little) waste? Where after one good is used, it could be converted into another useful item that could be reused and continues in a cycle? Considering that an approximate 91% of the world’s plastic isn’t recycled, the concept of a circular economy especially with regards to waste management would solve a lot of problems.
If we can’t get to the stage where we ban plastic outrightly, maybe giving it a second chance through upcycling and recycling would help ( This isn’t an excuse to over use plastic though. Remember; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
I was honored to interview Makafui Awuku- a Ghanaian Social innovator and Artist, who strongly believes in the Circular Economy Agenda and giving plastic waste a second chance to deal with the plastic pollution problem we face in Ghana.
What is Mckingtorch and what inspired you to take this initiative?
A couple of years ago, I participated in the Young African Leaders Initiative program (YALI) that helped me put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into perspective. I took interest in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11(Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). I also have an environmental management background from the University and was interested in going beyond just complaining on social media about the problems in Ghana and asking myself what I can do about it. In 2017, I decided to play with plastic waste and try to create something that to share with my community- so I made a Christmas tree from 396 plastic bottles, decorated it with lights in them installed it on a major Street in Madina, Accra. The project went viral! I did not intend to start a company then, but after this project I realized how much more I could do with plastic waste.
I picked the name Mckingtorch because it represents the purpose for which I exist as an individual. My name is Makafui, ‘torch’ means ‘light’ and ‘King’ represents God being the source of light for me to shine and impact my world.
What sort of products do you make and from what material are they made?
I am a self- taught artist who uses plastic waste to create art. I mainly use LDPE and HDPE plastic waste materials in the form of ‘pure water’ bags, plastic shopping bags and plastic bottles from the environment. I make bins, flower vases, pencil cases, shopping bags, backpacks, purses, and pouches. I recently started making throw pillows from shredded plastic waste bags and my latest innovation is a line of sandals from plastic bags which I have been working on for the past eight months. I also use car tires to make centerpieces.
Could you briefly describe the production process to us?
I basically collect waste from the environment, separate it, treat it, and prepare it for production. The plastic bottles and bags are turned into various forms of art products based on my inspiration as an artist.
Who patronizes your product and how do you plan to expand your customer base, product offerings and the like?
My products are such that they can be patronized by individuals and institutions across the globe. I also run a recycling training program which partners with research and academic institutions. When it comes to expanding my customer base, the aim is to develop the market and create an export system to make sure the products have international reach. We have different products for various people in different markets, so we need to keep creating durable products of value that individuals would be willing to pay for.
Why do you think plastic pollution is such a big problem for us in Ghana?
Plastic pollution has created a bad narrative for us as a country and it’s affecting tourism revenues, causing floods, disease and death. I believe there is a need for us to deal with it. We do not have efficient and sustainable waste management systems. Traditional waste management merely dumps waste which is then carried by the wind or burnt and pollutes the air. Another major problem is the way we generally handle waste as citizens- throwing away rubbish indiscriminately is common and aggravated by lack of enforcement of sanitation laws that prosecute those who break them and rewards those who do.
We have also not perceived plastic as useful resource that we can use for creating jobs and create businesses. Also, because of consumerism, we have moved away from using glass and reusable products as plastics have become cheaper and can easily be disposed of without any additional responsibility. So, we have created a kind of society that promotes pollution. We also don’t have the enabling environment to encourage proper waste disposal- you would find very few bins in the cities- in major public spaces like trotro stations and market squares, waste is left and dumped on the floor.
Ghanaians who are becoming more environmentally conscious would like to recycle their waste but do not know how. What advice do you have for them?
When it comes to recycling and upcycling there are online resources to learn a few techniques on how to reuse waste at home. Some of us in the informal and private sector are also creating solutions, one of which is the Plastic Waste Buy- Back Program that allows you to bring your plastic waste to specific locations and exchange it for money. Mckingtorch Africa has also partnered with some schools and organizations to start waste recovery programs where these organizations have a separate holding location for plastic waste and Mckingtorch Africa helps them to find buyers or have them develop projects that they can use this plastic waste for.
What have been some your big wins so far?
For me, the biggest win is to influence Ghanaians to be more responsible when it comes to handling plastic waste. I have been able to register my social enterprise as a limited liability company that has engaged and employed a few hands. The project has also been able to secure grants from the World Bank and Netherlands Government that helped us to build capacity. My work was viewed by Prince Charles of Wales when he was in Ghana during his Royal Visit in 2018 and has been documented by the BBC, Forbes magazine and Brussels Airlines. We have also developed a recycling module that we piloted in Ghana and Nigeria for over 1500 people. Again, we have secured research partnerships with the United Nations University, Brighton University, UK, and other organizations that allowed us to explore the waste management value chain and circular economy agenda. Consistently participating in plastic pollution and sustainable projects and exhibitions with the Dutch and Norwegian embassies and the British and Australian high commissions have also been big wins for us. We also exhibited at the United Nations Africa Climate week in 2019 in Accra. I was invited to the BBC to be interviewed on my project, and was considered by the UAE government to participate in their EXPO 2020 -Dubai (postponed to 2021). We also run a volunteer program at Mckingtorch Africa with 100 volunteers to whom we provide personal development support which is going very well and our latest innovation of creating a leather-like material from plastic waste to durable fashion items that can be recycled has been successful.
Could you share some of the challenges you have faced so far?
The biggest challenge we have is funding. As a start-up we experimented with plastic waste a lot and finding funds for experiments was difficult as people did not see the endgame. Getting people to buy into the idea has also been a challenge- I have had to do a lot of advocacy work to influence people. Developing, building, and acquiring the right machines and access leadership capacity building relevant for the project has also been a hurdle.
In what ways do you expect to influence policy to ensure that it is more environmentally conscious and sustainable?
I submitted a petition to the president concerning environmental sustainability and the fight against plastic pollution. I plan to keep writing to news agencies and organizations responsible for sanitation and water. I hope through this and our innovations at Mckingtorch Africa we can influence government and authorities to consider a more sustainable approach to deal with plastic pollution.
Do you support the notion that plastic should be banned? Why or why not?
Almost everything we use nowadays contains a certain amount of plastic. If we can develop an effective management system to manage the plastic, we can turn it into resources that can be used for production and create jobs for young people. If we are unable to do so, we must consider banning it to a certain extent. For instance, the civil service employs over 260,000 people; if government decides that they are banning the use of plastic products in all government institutions and offices it could go a long way to reduce plastic pollution. Provision of water dispensers for employees to drink from using their own reusable bottles and enforcing the practice where they buy food in their own containers instead of plastic bags could also help. Shops can also ask customers whether they need plastic bags before they give it to them and charge a small fee (which could serve as a deterrent). We can also ban plastic in our airports and tourist sites. An outright ban is not practical partly because the plastic manufacturing industry has created a lot of jobs and there are few alternatives for young people working in the sector.
If Ghana begins to move away from plastic like Rwanda, how do you plan to upscale or pivot your business?
My business is not just based on plastic waste. It is social enterprise in the water sanitation, climate change and sustainable communities’ sector. Our work is based on sustainability and we have a vision to invest in projects that create more sustainable communities and cities, better access to water and sanitation services and also help reduce the carbon footprint to deal with climate change.
What state policies would you like to see passed that could promote sustainable businesses like yours?
Government can provide grants to start-ups, create incubator programs, and provide technical support. Also, government can tell the stories of these young people in these startups and businesses in a way to attract investors and support from international organizations. Also, they can also create access to international events that allow these businesses to exhibit their products and services to the whole world and buy some of these products. For example, government could purchase the bags and sandals we make and provide them to schoolchildren.
From your experience, do you think businesses can be green and sustainable?
Absolutely. We are in a time where people like to do business with organizations that are environmentally conscious. There is so much pressure on nature and we are realizing that the environment cannot support our current lifestyle. Businesses should assess the environmental impact of their projects and find a cheaper, greener, and more sustainable ways of production which could in the long term reduce the cost of production and even maximize profit.
How do you plan to ensure that your production process does not contribute to Climate Change when you upscale?
Our project is built on the foundation of sustainability. For every product that we produce, our aim is to reduce plastic pollution, create sustainable communities and cities and reduce the carbon footprint. The leather- like material we create from the waste is through a smokeless process so as to not endanger the health of our workers and cause pollution. In producing our footwear, we source plastic waste from aggregators which are in a recycling hub in Accra thus reducing transportation cost and carbon footprint by 50%. The production process also uses very little amount of water as we work with temperatures of over 300° to sanitize the plastic waste. We are also making sure the products are durable and we have a repair strategy- a system where people can return the products for replacement, so we convert the material back into their raw form to make new products. We sell our products on our website and social media platforms and we encourage customers to accept E receipts and E proposals that reduces our use of paper and energy.
How do you dispose of your plastic waste at home? I’m eager to hear in the comments section! Do you know ways you can reuse it? Is there any plastic waste agency you can hand it to to be recycled/upcycled?
…enjoy this environmental masterpiece from Wanlov de Kubolor
