October was a month full of vibrance and joy at Impact Hub! Before we entered the Dashain season, we had a grand pitching showcase of the Plastic to Ghar (P2G) program, a culmination of the yearlong ideation and incubation program of the Plastic Waste remanufacturing project! The “Plastic Waste Remanufacturing for Local Housing: Innovation Ecosystem in Nepal” is a joint effort between Impact Hub Kathmandu, the University of Cambridge – Center for Industrial Sustainability, Field Ready and Sustainable Manufacturing & Environmental Pollution (SMEP). From the second round of the Plastic Upcycle MAKEathon back in November 2022, the winners from the phase were enrolled on the half-year incubation program. In this October showcase, the companies pitched their idea and won the seed fund of £800 each!
The project, funded by SMEP and UKaid, aims to address the issue of plastic waste in Nepal by developing innovative solutions for recycling plastic and reusing it in local housing projects. As part of the initiative, five local entrepreneurs and innovators were selected: Geodome, Paramendo, Plastic Heart, GD Labs and Scavengers who received support in the form of equipment, resources, expert guidance, and business incubation training. To further the project’s goals, we held innovation events, providing incubation support to startups, and franchising small-scale plastic waste remanufacturing units throughout Nepal.
The showcase event, part of the P2G project at Impact Hub Kathmandu, featured five teams presenting their business ideas and product concepts to a diverse audience, including local government representatives from Kathmandu, Illam, and Besisahar, as well as representatives from Cambridge University and local waste management leaders. The event began with a lab tour, followed by a discussion led by Ms. Shristi Shrestha, Environment Inspector of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, on waste management issues and relevant government policies in Nepal. Ian Bamford from Cambridge University joined virtually, and translation services were provided to ensure inclusivity.
The event also featured commitments from Mr. Naresh Shrestha of Illam Municipality to support plastic upcycling programs and Mr. Megendra Pokharel of Besisahar Municipality, who expressed cooperation with the waste management initiatives of GD Labs. Mr. Amod Karmacharya, CEO of Clean Up Nepal, shared his extensive experience in plastic pollution and upcycling, inspiring the participants. The event highlighted the collective commitment and solidarity among stakeholders to address plastic waste issues in Nepal.
Participants and products
The teams from our program are all working towards a common goal: to take discarded plastics and transform them into valuable and marketable materials for use in the construction industry in Nepal. The summary of teams and their solution can be observed below.
Paramendo
Plastic Heart
GeoDome
Scavengers
GD Labs
Mr. Henrique Pacini from UNCTAD, Professor Anil Hira from Simon Fraser University and Mr. Thomas Askew from Pegasys Consulting shared their feedback and insights on the teams’ projects, discussing potential challenges and opportunities for growth. Ms. Curie Park of the University of Cambridge and Padmakshi Rana, Executive Director of Impact Hub Kathmandu, emphasized the positive impact the projects could have on people’s lives. Based on the evaluation of the team’s performance over the past two phases and pitch presentation, each of the five teams were granted seed funding of 800 euros to develop their business ideas. The team will receive further coaching and mentoring. We also had the honorable presence of the Chairperson of our Ward No. 3 from Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City who showed support and encouragement for SME support programs led by local organization Impact Hub Kathmandu.
Impact
The event showcased the potential of plastic recycling to promote sustainable development and environmental preservation. By implementing innovative solutions for recycling plastic, the event highlighted the potential to drive increased demand for recycled plastic and encourage local investment in recycling infrastructure. The proposed solutions from the teams could result in decreased plastic waste in landfills or the environment. Additionally, these solutions could foster new business opportunities for local communities, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. By addressing plastic waste in a sustainable and economically viable way, these solutions could have a positive impact on both the environment and local communities in Nepal.
