Meet GES Delegate: Mary B. Barongo-Heintz
Countries of activity: Uganda, Germany, Brazil, Honduras, PNG
Organization Name : BARK CLOTH_uganda Ltd. / BARK CLOTH_europe
Organization Website: www.barktex.com
Organization profile: BARK CLOTH is a Ugandan-German family venture, founded in 1999. Manufacturer of innovative bio-composites and textiles from regrowing tree bark. Our most emerging product is BARKTEX®_No-buffalo, a biobased vegan leather substitute. Target markets: interior works, automotive, furniture, fashion.
17 years of experience working with local communities in Uganda, Brazil, Honduras and PNG. Supplied by 600 rural organic farmers, we employ 50 workers and are profitable. BARK CLOTH has been honoured with internationally recognized awards for material engineering, design, and social innovation. Initiated by NASA, USAID, Nike and the US Department of State, the unique, low-energy, eco-efficient and eco-effective, partly CO2 emission-free BARKTEX® manufacturing process, based on ancient, culturally-aligned techniques was recognized as one of the top 10 forward-looking system innovations at “LAUNCH Sytems Challenge”. We are ready to scale up through expansion and diversification on the sourcing/ manufacturing and marketing/sales side.
What inspired you to start this organization? I wanted to prove that money can really ‘grow on trees’ while contributing to solving some global challenges, such as:
- Minimizing environmental and socio-economic problems caused by the production of leather and conventional petrol-based plastic; and
- Reducing the difficulties of creating jobs in rural areas of tropical developing and threshold countries, especially for educationally disadvantaged women.
What is your next big step? Providing beautiful wall coverings for the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
Biggest obstacle as an entrepreneur? Finding capable staff members, distribution partners and financial partnerships along the growth process.
My advice for other emerging entrepreneurs? Don’t act on tips from people who don’t have keen insight into your organization. Don’t give advice when you have no insight into others organizations.
