ECOPACK

ECOPACK is leveraging biotechnology to produce cheaper biodegradable packages to preserve the environment.

Styrofoams pose an overarching problem to environmental sustainability. Every year, Nigeria contributes approximately 32 million tonnes of wastes to Africa’s landfills and 75% of these wastes are non-biodegradable packaging including styrofoam. In addition, poor environmental behaviors have been identified as key contributors to this problem. The major reason for this is the poor awareness, support, and lack of eco-friendly alternatives. For change to be inclusive and sustainable, we must promote a practical model that ensures awareness whilst promoting reduction culture. ECOPACK is developed to equip Nigerian communities (urban and rural) with the resources to make environmentally sustainable choices. Nigeria is currently the world’s largest producer of cassava. The manufacturing model of ECOPACK taps into the readily available and accessible cassava starch to produce Cassafoams. Cassafoam is designed to replace styrofoam packages. ECOPACK leverages technology with the use of biotechnology, manufacturing technology, and web applications to address the unique needs of these communities. ECOPACK allows users to purchase wholesale and retail cassafoams while providing support and promoting environmental sustainability culture. ECOPACK is inclusive and ensures that services are affordable, accessible, and equitable to protect communities against environmental degradation.

Nigeria, the waste capital of Africa is home to 6 of the biggest landfills on the continent. This is a result of the insurmountable amount of municipal solid wastes produced. The poor waste management system coupled with spillage of styrofoam in landfills, sewers, and water bodies pose a significant burden not only to the environment but also to health as proper environmental hygiene is hardly sustainable in these conditions. These landfills have led to land encroachment and water contamination increasing the number of displaced persons and the danger of water-borne diseases respectively. Indigenous communities are faced with this overwhelming problem-the problem of neglect and ignorance. About 80% of these communities are major contributors to the production of cassava and have access to the internet and approximately, 50% of the cassava produced is wasted. People in these communities want to tackle this problem of wastage and degradation. Unfortunately, existing support and alternatives are not available at community levels. All communities (local and urban) need accessible ways to solve the problem of environmental degradation that bothers the status of their well-being and land.

ECOPACK models (manufacturing technology, biotechnology, and Web application) serve to reach communities with:

a.   Little to no awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability.  

b.  Little to no resources for waste management.

c.   Suffering from contamination and pollution from waste by non-biodegradables including styrofoam.

d.  Little to no alternatives of non-biodegradable packaging including styrofoam packs

ECOPACK will equip community members who are also earth protectors with biodegradable alternatives and appropriate information to reduce the constant exposure to hazardous pollutants and ultimately improve their quality of life.  

The fit of ECOPACK was assessed using quantitative surveys via polls and key interviews among manufacturers, service providers (restaurants, shopping malls, etc.), and final consumers in these communities. Following our current poll, 84% of our target communities are receptive to our solution. In the presence of alternatives, they display positive attitudes to the uptake of our product. In addition, ECOPACK's team experience with the environmental clean-up projects positions us to tackle the gruesome challenges of environmental degradation. We have observed that our approach to clean up while effective requires a complementary solution- promoting reduction culture. 

Currently, ECOPACK is in the raw material acquisition and manufacturing phase of Cassafoams. We have reached out to partners and potential collaborators such as environmental sustainability enthusiasts, community leaders, and government agencies.

ECOPACK utilizes the antioxidant properties and other physical properties of Cassava starch to produce cheaper, biodegradable, and food-friendly packaging materials using hardware machinery. Our form of technology leverages the application of biotechnology and manufacturing technology to produce these biodegradable alternatives that can replace hazardous styrofoam packaging. These packaging materials are known as Cassafoams are new products from existing technology, as the principles of this technology have been applied to produce other forms of packaging.  

ECOPACK also uses web and mobile applications to encourage sensitization about environmental sustainability and to reach our consumers easily. Using a point system (eco-points), our web and mobile applications also encourage incentivization for users who contribute to environmental sustainability. We can monitor customers who encourage the reduction of non-biodegradable packaging (by using our Cassafoams) and those who engage in proper sorting of their Cassafoam waste which can be assessed by collectors.

With adequate resources, Ecopack will reach over three million people across communities in Oyo State, Nigeria in one year. We intend to double that in the following year while reaching many more communities. Five years from now, we can leverage meaningful partnerships to operate within numerous communities across 15 states in Nigeria to reach over sixty million people.

Nigeria spends about 1.4Billion USD which is 3.8% of its annual importation expenditure on the importation of non-biodegradable packaging materials, including styrofoam. There are millions of people who reside in sub-urban areas with constant exposure to hazardous pollutants. Over five thousand acres of groundwater is polluted, putting persons at risk of pollution-associated diseases.

With ECOPACK, we project that the current expenditure will shrink significantly. There will be a reduction in refuse burning and water contamination with positive implications for health and living. Nigeria incurs enormous expenditure on the treatment of diseases, not to mention casualties we suffer. Many of these diseases can be prevented by a clean, healthy environment.

We are monitoring:

• Number of cassafoam users, both through reports from known users, and Google Play Store & website downloads

• Countries and regions where Cassafoams is being used

• Number of communities served by Ecopack

Slow entry into our target markets can pose a barrier to us. This can, however, be tackled by sensitization, publicity, and lobbying for the implementation of already existing laws. Low levels of literacy in some areas especially on the importance of environmental sustainability is another possible threat. There is a need for intense continual publicity to inculcate a value for environmental sustainability within the populace.

The ECOPAC administration team comprises four young health professionals with a diverse skill set ranging from leadership, project management, environmental sustainability, business administration, and financing who coordinate the factors of production to deliver a savvy, viable, affordable, and acceptable product to the market place, thus, expanding the cause of environmental sustainability in our community and beyond. Members of our diverse team have worked with various NGOs that are passionate about the environment and improving health outcomes. Their part-time roles in these organizations coupled with a career in medicine have given them first-hand experience in the negative outcomes of environmental crisis. These experiences and skills are primary motives for developing technological solutions that promote sustainability.

ECOPACK currently partners with NGOs like the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation and our local TEDx University College Hospital team. These organizations share our values in creating environmental sustainability by reducing the effects of non-biodegradables in our community, thus, they partner with us towards financing, creating public sensitization, and expanding our product reach.