Plastic: Less drastic, more fantastic- How Awurama Kena-Asiedu Recycles in Style
Plastic waste is a global problem — it is one of the World’s major pollutants and is found absolutely everywhere in oceans, around town, and even in the Mariana trench(the deepest point of the earth). It’s also one of the major causes of Climate Change — the production and waste management process emits greenhouse gases. From your environmental studies classes way back in primary school, you may have discovered that it takes almost 1000 years for plastic to decompose.
Some countries manage this situation much better than others. In Thailand, some supermarkets use banana leaves as packaging, Rwanda has banned plastic altogether and Germany recycles about 56% of its municipal waste. Ghana’s plastic problem is no secret. If you’ve walked through the streets of Accra, you’d have already come across that gutter filled with ‘pure water’ sachets, black polythene bags, anything you can imagine. How do we plan to deal with this?
Today, I interview Awurama Kena-Asiedu, a young Ghanaian entrepreneur — founder and CEO of RAMAPLAST, an organization dedicated to helping solve our plastic waste problem in their own small way.
1. What is RAMAPLAST and what inspired you to take this initiative?
Back in high school, one of the lessons from my business management class was “ a good business is one that impacts its community positively.” On 3rd June 2015, over 200 lives were lost in a flood that hit the country. Research shows that, a major cause of this was plastic waste choking up sewage outlets and disrupting the proper flow of rainwater. Plastic waste is also an obstacle to Ghana’s sanitation. My passion to solve this plastic waste problem and its related hazards led to RAMAPLAST.
Ramaplast is a recycling company that uses plastic waste to produce quality and affordable waterproof bags, with a touch of African print. We also engage in community sanitation education campaigns and create decent jobs for people.
With my 7-year experience in producing top notch African themed bags through my company called Ramafrique, I am confident that using plastic waste to produce bags is a suitable approach to curbing this menace.
2. Could you briefly describe the production process?
We collect mostly ‘pure water’ sachets, wash them thoroughly and sew them into highly waterproof bags. We operate a “trash for cash” initiative, where we purchase plastic waste from the public, giving them extra income and livelihood. Companies are also doing a great service to their community by ensuring we receive their plastic waste. We would like to use this platform to commend such firms.
3. Why do you think plastic is such a big problem in Ghana?
When you walk through the streets in Ghana, you’ll find many buying sachet water to quench their thirst. The pure water business is the fastest growing business in Ghana and is also a huge contributor to pollution in the country. Plastic packaging has fast taken over our ancient ways of food wrapping. Banning plastic in Ghana is close to impossible as it is cheap and widely available, yet only 19% of all this plastic waste produced is recycled.. Recycling is the best way to eradicate these pollutants that are fast engulfing our land.
4. In what other ways do you think we can improve our recycling culture?
We need to change our mindset on recycling and sanitation in general. At Ramaplast, we engage in sensitization programs for schools and communities. Equipping the younger generation especially with the needed climate, sanitation and recycling information is the way to go.
5. Who patronizes your product/who are your main customers?
Various NGOs, community leaders and the general public mostly. The touch of African print on our bags attracts tourists and people in the diaspora.
6. Could you share some of the challenges you have faced so far?
Because most people don’t separate their waste, we must do this ourselves, making our work quite tedious. Also, funding to upscale this project remains a problem.
7. How do you plan to expand your customer base, product offerings and the like?
Our product tells a tale of how useful plastic waste can be, highlighting the importance of recycling. As people are becoming more environmentally conscious, emphasizing the importance of our products to plant, animal and human life is our main approach to increase our customer base.
8. What state policies would you like to see passed that could promote sustainable businesses like yours?
In Ghana, taxes and incentives control both consumption and production adequately. Enforcement of green taxes and other environmental taxes would help. Incentives for recycling companies would help curb the plastic waste.
9. From your experience, do you think businesses can be green /sustainable and competitive?
Working with the World Bank on their green buildings initiative reinforced my belief that being a green business comes through the subtle and conscious efforts we put in to reduce our activities that affect the environment negatively. In a society where people continue to be conscious of their environment, being a green business directs more customers to you, saves the very customers you seek for your business and ultimately saves the environment as whole.
Something to chew on
How do you feel about the plastic situation in Ghana? And how, in your own small way, do you think you can deal with it? Where do your empty sachet and bottles go? Do you take reusable bags to your weekend shopping or you leave with a plethora of plastic bags? Have you thought of buying your morning Waakye with your own bowl or food container? Maybe you can use paper or reusable crockery instead of plastic for that party?How do you dispose of your rubbish? Are there any other trash for cash initiatives near you that you can help? And when you’re finished with your water or Fanyogo and there’s no bin around, where do you put it?
Here’s some music from Wanlov and Sister Derby to remind us to recycle. Enjoy!
