EP15: Recycling Plastic Waste: Helton Traders' Journey

When you're investing a woman, she does not only take care of herself, she contributes to empowering more other people and contribute to building more resilient nations. The impact you're creating for your fellow people and with me, that alone is success. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast, "Griving Eco-Sustainability" my perspective and I am your host Grace. And on this second season, we are again delving into those impactful conversations with people who are contributing to the drive for environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change. And today, I am pleased to be joined by a lady called Helen. I know her only by Helen, but she'll tell us more about herself. So join us, listening, watch us and you can share your views as we go along at the end of that day. So Helen, welcome today. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for having me today. Okay. So I'm excited. I hope everyone else is equally excited as well. So today we are going to be delving into the journey of recycling plastics, which is one of the biggest problems and challenges in our country, Uganda. So Helen, basically who is Helen? And share with us briefly your journey with the health on plastics and recycling. What about this journey and the thought that you are putting to it? All right. Thank you so much to begin with. My name is Munoz Ahelen. I am the founder of Holtun Trader's Limited. So at Holtun, we turn plastic bottle waste into high quality sustainable polyester fabric sewing threads. And we are tackling two major issues here in Uganda. That's the growing plastic pollution and the under supply of the polyester fabric sewing threads. So why we started? Well, 80% of our revenue comes from the sewing thread selling of the sewing threads and knowing that we have 800 whole cell textile traders in in Campala. We were like, we have to really tap into this opportunity and knowing the fact that we have the raw materials here, Uganda is generating over 600 tons of plastic waste daily. And only 40% of those is this post-doff well. Yes. And actually not even fully recycled only. So and the risk the 60% goes into the landfill and you know, you know, polluted environment and something that's of a very huge danger to everyone. So and we were, you know, doing this, we were, you know, we wanted to reduce our reliance on imports, create jobs, uplift our communities through partnering with the collectors mostly women and youth. And well, the economy of our country, so that is why we majorly started this business. Yeah. Wow. That's quite interesting. I think for me what have picked is that you're killing quite, you're dealing with quite a number of issues with this project, your creative jobs, your recycling plastics and you're also bettering our environment all together. So and you've hinted on the biggest issue, which is plastic. Yes. Pollution. It's one of the biggest problems in this country. I think actually even today there was a headline in the newspaper that's the observer that around 9.8 million homesteads are not good at and are not effective with how they dispose of their garbage. Or garbage. Yeah. So share a bit more. How dare is the situation of plastic pollution in Uganda? A bit more from your daily experiences. So like I mentioned earlier in my first response. So in a day, Uganda is generating 600 tons of plastic waste and only 40% of that is you know, dispose of probably a non-fully recycled. But and the 60% just remains, goes you know, just right into you. So we have huge and as Asgelton, we are able for now to recycle over 500 kilograms a month. So that's no sorry, per week. So that at least leaves out a huge, you know, a whole huge amount and recycled. Something that I think is supposed to be like Azar, it has to come up as a collective effort because you know, and to begin with the government policies, you know, the community efforts, the private sector initiative, I think this is something that has to be done as a whole. People are supposed to be, you know, sensitized about the importance of the sorting. And it has to start from us, the people and and and they're the governments and the huge, you know, impacts organizations. People need to know the importance of recycling, reusing and repurposing because you know, this is where we're headed for climate change is a huge serious issue that everyone should look into. And it has to be done as a team. So it's huge and but it's something that can be waxed and you know, we can, you know, come up with the change. I think yes, you've mentioned something important to do with policies. And as Aloya, I'm fully aware that actually our National Environment Act currently provides for plastics, use of plastics, regulation of plastics. But even at that point, it's still lacking in implementation. There is still more plastic than we need. And as someone who has come across the fact that in the region, everyone uses Randa as a yardstick of the fact that they have a very good West management policy. In fact, when you go to Randa, you'll even be shy to enter supermarket and you buy a plastic soda because on your journey, as you enter the supermarket, you wouldn't have seen any plastic anyway. So now I know that this is quite an intensive process and quite a big vision for Hilton. So now, shout out to us, how do you get these plastics? Do people bring them to you? Do you go out there soliciting for them? Do you have partnerships with people who give them to you? Because I know that there is a whole business and this is booming business of people who are into gathering all plastics. That's a great question. So currently we are partnering with over 100 women and youth. They do the collection for us and we buy from them. So doing that, we are, we decided to do that because we wanted to uplift the women and youth. Buying from them these plastics, it helps them on a living and at the same time, we are doing our business as well because the plastic PET bottles are the main raw materials. So we are like I spoke earlier, we collected 0.5 tons in a week. We buy from them at the same time, you know, support them in a way and that's how we partner with them and that, you know, the change goes on and on and on. So we buy from them, do our work, deliver our products to the wholesalers who who don't need to now wait for over because, you know, customers were waiting between two to four months getting their stuff because these things that the sewing threads come from China. And it's, it's very fun and as textile traders, we always need that constant supply of these sewing threads to keep up businesses moving. So getting these partnerships here and making the sewing threads locally here is something that is that I collect the next big thing and we, you know, you know, supporting, bringing back the glory of ESC is something that we are looking up for. The raw materials that we have here are collecting, getting everyone involved starting from the communities, the women, the youths. I mean, it is something that we are really, really working so hard for. Yes, no, speaking of the next big thing, I personally think it's not even the next big thing, it's the current big thing because you're reducing the supply chain costs, you're reducing the turnaround time for delivery for people who I need over these products. But at the same time, they're paying affordably. It's they're very affordable because right now a cartoon goes the imported ones is at 50 URUSD and I was 39 URUSD and our customers are already reporting a 20% reduction in costs, something that is really empowering in terms of how they are earning. So I feel it's really a chain of change and benefits for everyone. Yes, now on top of that the most important thing as well, the cherry on that top would be the fact that it's also creating jobs because as we are away as a country we have an endemic and cancer of unemployment. So how is this really like? How we are looking at around how many people you're working with and people whose lives you're impacting through employment reading because as we may not creating green jobs and jobs that are resulting from our environmental sustainability and conservation is currently a priority on the agenda of development. So we are looking at how many women here because green jobs are the future at least. So currently in the collection sector into our production process, we have the women and youth who collect for us these plastic bottles which are also our raw materials. So they are over 100 women who do their collection, we have them in different collection centers. So also these women have the youth who go into their communities. Some other women also do go to collect. So they're over 100 and also we have like on our team like the factory where I work from the shops. So we are over 50. So because we have different stuff that we do, so making it over 150 people that I'm working with. Wow, that's quite impactful at least. 150 people's lives are changing. 150 people are able to put food on their plates. One, fifty people are able to pay school fees for their school going children. One, fifty people lives at change. And actually, you know, that is that number because, well, as you know, we are a growing business. So we are hoping to scale in and we want to increase our impacts because right now due to the capacity, the production capacity and the recycling rate that we have right now, we require just, you know, a small number for now. But as you know, we want to go to, you know, Kenya to Randa Tanzania, the ESC. So we want to even make it, you know, over like 10,000 jobs to be created by 2030 because we wanted to be huge. Everyone has to benefit from from the project here. Well, it's a big vision and we are hopefully going to be here with you and we support you and we work this journey with you. So now on the plastics, can you share with us a bit more what nature of plastics you look out for because we have so many very types of plastics. They's cavera. Then there is the bottle. Then they are the bottle tops. Like there is so much plastic. Do you have a specific preference for the plastic that you use? Ah, yeah. Of course, yes. So the plastics that we need are the PET, the PET plastic bottles. What's the PET? The PET there. Like I will give you an example of like the Coca-Cola plastic bottles, the Pepsi, the mineral water bottles. But then even on recycling them, we don't use that bottle top. We remove it and also we remove the the labels because those give you different materials. So we just use the down part. Okay. So now earlier on, you had mentioned something to do with the fact that because of these threads, people now have a higher brick even and return on investments, especially in that textile industry, all the fashion intensive industry. Like you know that industry, people who are in two businesses that require a textile intensive use. So please share with us a bit more about that because we know that going forward in the fight against climate change and in the fight and the quest for environmental sustainability has path the need for sustainable fashion. And sustainable fashion means that we have to you. We have to be cautious of the source of the material we use, but also what has been input to assemble, what we wear and what we use. And I know that threads because of sewing and use, they play an integral part in this. So kindly share with us more how this business and how it is helping people in that textile intensive industry to break even. So that's a very good question. So to begin with, the market opportunities here in Uganda actually the whole of East Africa, they're massive. And the textile business, the textile sector is really growing. And here in Uganda, we have so many initiatives for and so many businesses are opening up, textile businesses. So what was happening is actually the market in Uganda, all sectors are virgin. We have been the whole of East Africa. We've been bringing in these sewing threads from China and we are spending over only Uganda alone over like three million US dollars by buying these threads from China. The market is very huge. It's the whole of East Africa. It's where the 35.1 million US dollars that is so huge. It shows how much, how much on demand these threads are because we are having so many fashion initiatives, so many schools, so many organizations do carry on these initiatives and businesses are earning a lot more. So given our threads, they are sold at 39 US dollars and the imported ones are at 50 US dollars. So, that shows that we are creating opportunities for even our textile traders to earn something. And that is like that because we are making this locally here. So it means that we have to make sure that these traders really earn something off it. So that actually 99% of our customers are actually reporting that there was a reduction in cost 20%. Well, it's because they don't have to wait anymore. Business goes on because previously they were buying, they have to wait between two to four months to receive the orders. And also, you know, when you're making an order from China, it has to be a huge one. At once, you don't. Yes, in bulk. You can't go in with your money with just, oh, I want 10 cartoons, all these, all that. And also the colors, you know, there are times when we need like, there are those seasons when different colors move faster. And yet, making an order, you just, they determine because, you know, there are those colors, you know, so many people make so many different orders. So they have to divide those. So and also the color, the color selections, the color palettes, the color shades, at times you need to read, but then you get a different shade of read and something that really affects businesses because you might want to, you know, you want to sell like real orange to it's cool and big, but huge, you know, big order. And you lose out on that because you're not having what exactly they really, you know, need. And so so many, so many different aspects, so many different things that, you know, you know, that really determine how huge they're doing with their businesses right now, with, you know, buying from us and, you know, how they were buying from the, you know, the imported the Chinese companies. So, so, you know, this is a huge thing for us. And I'm pretty sure on scaling, it is going to be so different. We are so much looking out for the whole East African market, being the, the biggest distributors and manufacturers of this sewing service. We have high hopes and we are pretty sure we are bringing back the East African gold. Yes. It's something that we had before and, you know, it for a moment it went, but then it has to come back because textile is like like agriculture is something that we are earning from more as Africa. And yeah, it is something that we are fighting for now. Yes, I think in the context of East African regional integration and the fact that we want to have a seamless flow of trade. Simeless and free entry limited barriers in terms of entry from one in Stafrika and country. Another, it's really something that renders a health on to big white at the center and right for opportunity. So now speaking, building on that other than Uganda, have you scaled and going to other regions within Stafrika or you're still basically in Uganda right now? So currently given our capacity, we are still within Uganda because we've not even you know, observed that Uganda market as yet. But upon scaling, it is what we are looking out for. We want to go to Kenya fast and then Randa, then Tanzania, Sudan. So we want to go into the whole ESI. So yes, and it's quite a leap of faith. I must say, but also a good one because you know, initially Stafrika community used to be three, but now it's quite more. So many now, yes, that the rich and the probability of impact is quite bigger. So now Helen, someone out there would want to know in a simplest terms possible. Walk us through the process of when, as briefly, walk us through the process of when the plastic gets to health on and up to that stage when you see the final product of that threat, briefly. Okay, in brief, so what we do, we collect tons of plastic bottle waste, take them into the recycling phase to get the PET flex. Then through this phase, it's where we remove the the labels and the bottle tops. And then take the PET flex into the extruding phase to get the step of fiber. So within that process, we remove impurities, the unwanted colors, to make the fabric more pure, more sustainable. So from that, it's when we take it into the spinning phase, where we finally color and spin our final sewing threads. Wow. Yeah. Quite a process to get to something quite new, but something also aiding in responsible consumption and production. So now, yes, on this journey, can you share with us what your biggest challenges have been. And while we at the challenges, how have you been able to tackle them? And also those highlights, the successes and the joys that have kept you going and driving this passion and vision. That is very interesting. That's a very interesting question. So the challenges, so you know, as you know, entrepreneurship, you most of the time you look at investment, you know, because it's something that can get you off the ground just that your businesses and carry on and on. So, you know, all my journey fundraising journey hasn't been so easy. And which something that you'll take me to. Something that takes me to, I'll get to that. So I've had an opportunity to get funding from UNDP Uganda. So UNDP was the very first organization that believed in our story, that believed in our vision. And I'll forever be grateful because they were the first fun going there. So at the point UNDP comes to fund. How many funding opportunities that you thought you know, usually we look at these things. My friend when the peak in funding, someone feels like, wow, you and deep I had literally, I was said not to for literally like a wall full. Yeah, I think two years, like trying to, you know, taking applications, you go peach, you know, and successful. But they're like, oh, we're sorry, we can't know this time. Oh, you know, yes, but I can't go. I'm going and going and going and going. And that did not stop me because I believed in what, you know, I saw something great in this. And I believed in myself and you know, I kept on going. So the resilience, you know, counts more. You don't know how much you can achieve when you, you know, you just keep going. Yes. You do it and do it and do it. And once you do something that you love, it doesn't even feel like you're doing anything at all. You just keep going. So like so many organizations and you know, funders, we're saying no for all that time. But then you and Deepi came in and they gave us our first grant. We did, we completed our research. We created some pause. We started operating on a very small scale. And also something that I would talk about, you know, it is very important to start small because at first, we were having a budget of five million U.S. dollars because we wanted the machines. We wanted they were like taking us to three factories in one. Yes. They recycling the fiber and the thread. So knowing how huge the market is, we were looking at a whole huge thing. But then that told us a lesson, you know, failing teaches you, you know, you know, you know, you just do start with what's there. And you don't have you, you know, starting small, I mean, it's some other way of creating impacts and, you know, and also coming in with the knowledge, the accelerator programs being to do something because I mean, someone who learns, you know, someone who goes in always for the knowledge. I'm pretty sure there are those people who who come up with solutions who do come in with their, you know, change and solutions for different problems. So, you know, getting, we've got some funding from UNDP, from Emu Chalaventia, they're their headquartered in Kenya, but they have offices here. And then with the Jim Leach Foundation by Queen's University, Afri's Challenge, Concordia University, Sastory, and also Tony Elumelu, with Foundation ESC, GIZ, we've gotten funding from them. And we are working, we are scaling, we are still growing, but we are, yes, we are we are happy to have such partnerships. Yes, so at least it's been quite a journey. And the Kitakawa is that we should not give up. It's like, yes, never. We are here, but it has been quite a task so it's been quite a process, really. It has also involved resilience and hanging in there. Yes, very important. Yes, very important. Financing and funding and pushing forward that dream takes a lot. So, success is really like what as some of those successes you look back and you're like, I'm really proud and I'm really happy that we were able to hit this milestone. We have been able to do this. Sir, success for me and given what we've done so far, it's the 100 women and youth we are working with because I mean we are just not making or you know, um, starting or working. We're not just thinking about money. Sometimes it's it's how your business is uplifting your community. And the impact you're creating for your fellow people and with me that alone is success. And also the fact that we are able to to have even if it's small but we have a 7.5 market share for now and we are working to us bigger players. They have been around for very yes. Yes, but people came to trust our products and we're having incredible partnerships with big organizations and I don't take that lightly. Yes. So, um, and we are we are we are out there. We are working and we are bringing the game on. Yes. So, yeah, we are still working and we are big things are coming. Yes. Yeah. Now, yes, from your honest point of view. Yes. You know, as a country, Hilton is going to really benefit from the fact that as a country we have that problem of plastics pollution. It's here with us. We've been singing over it and it all comes from the fact that we have poor garbage management and at least we are all alive to the fact that the most recent disaster that we are aware of is a kid is over 35 people. terutak iwi. Dan this is also because of poor garbage management. So do you think as a country, we are going to evarge that aspiration that we are driving to over zero west situation and position where the fact that the west reproduce, we are able to fully recycle it and non-trender it redundant. You know in the quest for responsible consumption and production, are we really ever going to be able to achieve that really? That's a good one. So I think I know you're going to have the potential to attain the zero west situation. Well, how? Because as you know, this is supposed to be a collective effort. So through the private sector initiatives and government policies and also getting the communities involved, I feel like, you know, and also to begin with, this is something that should start from right from home. People are supposed to be sensitized, how to, you know, dispose. Even people are supposed to be taught about the etiquette. I mean public etiquette. Someone uses, takes, you know, drinks their water, stand there in a taxi and then, you know, throws it outside. I think people have to learn about the importance of climate, environment, reuse, repurpose. And I feel like it should start from home. The government should come up and, you know, make this a wall, you know, a huge effort. But, but also I think me personally, I feel like, you know, people see plastic waste as a huge problem. But I think it's an opportunity for so many. So I think, you know, knowing that I feel like, you know, again, I would bring in, you know, huge, organic, big organizations. They should come and work with people on ground, like, for example, as who turn plastic bottles into sustainable police or sewing threads, you know, investing those initiatives that, you know, they repurpose, they, you know, even if it's like, provide disposal projects, you know, bottle collection projects. There's so many years out there who aren't from collecting these plastic bottles and some of them stopped going to school and, you know, it's so easy for them to go out there collecting, you know, get something to eat, provide for home. So many single moms do that. So I feel like it should be a group collective effort. With that, I'm pretty sure as you're going to, we can be able to attain that. So group effort together, we can bring about change. So I cannot do it alone. But then if I team up and get up with you, I mean, something can get done so easily. So that's what I think. Yes. So yes, as you mentioned, education awareness is the foundation to drive change and responsibility towards proper plastic management and use. But also you've hinted on something quite important. You know, usually when we are discussing this whole climate change, environmental sustainability, discussion and driving the narrative. Sometimes it seems like we tend to concentrate more on the negatives. And we forget the positives and the opportunities that we can look out for to make our environment better or to change the narrative. And I think that's where Hilton has really had a competitive age that other than us complaining about the plastics, other than looking at it as an evil, why don't we change the narrative and make it better and find a way of dealing with it, but benefiting the community of terror. So yes, now at that point, would it be to build a myth to ask what bigger plans Hilton has for 2025 because there has just started what are those future plans that you look at and you share with us a bit more on that. So at the times we have we obviously want to scale. We want to increase on their production capacity to at least 60% and the recycling capacity to 80%. And that will be possible. Well, with the partnerships I mentioned earlier and of course we are working on even more partnerships. So we are getting more machines this year. Some are already there in Mombasa, they will be in the country within a few. So you know, getting more machines helps us to increase on our capacity. And it's something that and and also we want to on the 100 women and youth we are working with right now. We want to add more. So you know, the capacity, the bigger capacity machinery is that we are getting will help us, you know, increase on the number of people we are working with. Yes, like on the very like grass road. Okay, yes, now yes, wow, it has been quite an exciting discussion. I would have gone on more and more because personally I was intrigued by the fact that plastics can be made into threads. I've always known only the obvious that we can make jewelry, we can make bags. So Helen, it has really been a humbling experience really to learn that actually today plastics can also be recycled and reused to make friends. So Helen out there, someone is wondering and they are really looking at plastics as an evil they are stressed. Like you know, usually when you there are certain places you go to like when you go to random, you literally see people irritated by the fact that they are looking at plastics. In fact, they even even when you go to a hotel, it's rare for you to find a plastic so that bottle. So someone out there is irritated by plastics. And what is that one message you would give them ready to ensure to to inspire them to understand that plastic recycling is their responsibility and it is good practice not to dump plastic, but also to understand that from plastics with that journey with health, it can be a source of jobs. It can be a source of reducing the supply chain costs. It is also it can be a dream that can be driven. It can be a dream that can be a source of inspiration to better our environment, but at the same time improve our livelihoods altogether. Well, to everyone watching so me personally, the founder of Hilton, so I think like I spoke earlier, I see plastic West as a huge opportunity. I don't see it as a problem really because one, it creates opportunities to so many different people in terms of you know the money they get. And so which is why I would urge you know, bigger organizations, you know, governments, impact funders. And so I would say, you know, come up with big huge ideas that would help you know, repurpose reuse because there are so many ideas that can help us reduce, you know, the impact of pollution on our lives and environments. To go back to the governments and organizations and impact funders, you know, invest in these initiatives, you know, for as long as they can, you know, bring in about change in so many ways like reducing plastics, you know, creating jobs like for example, my company, what we do. So I feel like these partnerships can help bring about change because apparently, you know, like people don't want to believe it, but you know, to some extent, you need money, we need the fund is to bring about change, you invest in us, we do the work and you know, you come on ground, see what we are doing, walk together with us. And then this will change so much because there are so many pollutes out there, but at least, you know, you produce and then you invest in initiatives that can, you know, reduce, I feel like that would really reduce the pollution and it would really bring in much good than the harm that's happening right now. I feel like the entrepreneurs should be more resilient come up, you know, go out there seek more knowledge on how to solve more problems. That you know, as far as plastic pollution is concerned, you learn, you create solutions, you know, be resilient. You don't know how much resilience, you know, brings about change. Keep going. Do what you do, believe in yourself and you know, go seek for help. You know, go out there, make those applications. You go into those accelerator programs. And also even the funders, please invest in entrepreneurs. Yes, because, you know, we need the help. We cannot do this alone. And however small, because if anything, something small, it can create a huge impact. You have no idea. And also invest more in women. Women, we are, we are, we are the eat. Because when you invest in a woman, she does not only, you know, take care of how oneself she contributes to empowering, you know, more other people and contributes to building more resilient nations, something that we really need. And that would unlock so much, billions and billions of yours dollars. So I think people should come up and partner with women, even the youth. Yes. I don't want people to think that, or she's only talking about women and all that. But I mean, whatever we touch, you know, you know, so, so Helen, we are someone, we are the health and offices located in Zana. We have offices at Freedom City and we have shop sites at the Lan Tai, so, was it, Cooper Complex? Okay. Yes. Thank you so much. It's been great having you here today. So for all those who want to know more about health, we are going to share their social media handles. And we are also going to share their address in our description. Look out and learn more about their work and also support them to better the environment. This could be your contribution to bettering the environment all together. Personally, for me, what I've picked out has been that with Hilton recycling plastics, it's creating more green jobs, addressing the unemployment problem, also increasing the return on investment in the fashion and textile intensive business. So, easing the supply chain management with the Uganda, with the hope of growing this vision and making it better in the rest of East Africa. Quite a beautiful vision and let us go out there to support and finance a dream because bettering our environment in the quest for environmental sustainability is bettering lives for present and future generations. So for all those who are interested in learning more about Hilton, look out more in our description, but also remember to subscribe, share your views so that you know more exciting episodes and more impactful stories that are driving environmental sustainability and also fighting climate change. I've been your host Grace, driving eco sustainability, my perspective. I'm your host, Grace. Thank you so much for watching this video. I do value the time that you put in to watch every episode. The entire essence I started this channel was to enhance the reach of the voices of those people who are contributing to the fight against climate change and those who are fighting to save our environment. If you like this video, click the subscribe button so that you can contribute to enhancing awareness towards climate action. Let's save our planet together.