COCOBOARD™

The global problem COCOBOARD™ aims to solve is the alarming rate of deforestation, particularly in Africa. Deforestation in Africa is occurring more than twice the global average, with over 4 million hectares of forests lost annually. In Tanzania specifically, the annual deforestation rate is estimated at 469,000 hectares, or 1.3% of the country's total forest cover. 

This rampant deforestation is driven in large part by the high demand for traditional wood-based construction materials. Globally, the construction industry is responsible for approximately 38% of all carbon emissions, with wood-based products being a major contributor. In Tanzania, where 90% of the population relies on traditional wood-fueled cooking and heating, the demand for timber has led to the rapid degradation of the country's forests.

The loss of these critical forest ecosystems not only devastates biodiversity and natural habitats, but also has severe consequences for the billions of people around the world whose livelihoods and food security depend on healthy forests. According to the UN, deforestation affects the lives of up to 1.6 billion people globally who rely on forest resources for their subsistence and income.

By providing a sustainable, high-performance alternative to traditional wood-based construction materials, COCOBOARD™ aims to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building industry while also creating new economic opportunities for waste pickers and farmers in developing nations.

COCOBOARD™'s solution is a revolutionary eco-friendly building material made from repurposed agricultural waste in Tanzania. Through an innovative proprietary process, COCOBOARD™ transforms coconut husks and sugarcane fiber - byproducts that would otherwise be discarded - into ultra-durable composite panels that outperform traditional wood-based construction materials.

The process begins by aggregating these waste materials from networks of waste pickers and small-scale farmers across Tanzania. The raw materials are then milled, dried, and compounded using COCOBOARD™'s patented thermal compression molding technique to create the NatuRewood™ composite panels.

These panels are 2-3 times stronger and longer-lasting than commercial wood used in Tanzania, while also being naturally flame retardant and anti-fungal without the use of any harmful chemicals. Crucially, COCOBOARD™'s production process is carbon-neutral, and the final product is 100% compostable at the end of its lifecycle.

By providing a high-performance, sustainable alternative to traditional wood-based building materials in Tanzania, COCOBOARD™ aims to disrupt the growing eco-friendly construction market in the country. This breakthrough technology not only reduces deforestation pressures, but also creates new income opportunities for waste pickers and small-scale farmers, aligning with Tanzania's sustainable development goals.

COCOBOARD™'s solution primarily serves two key groups in Tanzania:

1. Waste pickers and small-scale farmers: COCOBOARD™ creates a new income stream for these individuals by aggregating their agricultural waste, such as coconut husks and sugarcane fiber, which would otherwise be discarded. By converting these waste products into a valuable raw material for its eco-friendly building panels, COCOBOARD™ provides a sustainable livelihood opportunity for these marginalized communities.

In Tanzania, an estimated 3 million people work as informal waste pickers, often living in poverty and lacking access to stable employment. COCOBOARD™'s model empowers these individuals by tapping into their existing waste collection networks and offering fair, consistent compensation for the agricultural byproducts they collect. This not only improves their economic security but also reduces the environmental burden of waste disposal in the country.

2. Builders and construction workers: COCOBOARD™'s innovative building panels provide a high-performance, sustainable alternative to traditional wood-based materials that are often inaccessible or prohibitively expensive for many construction projects in Tanzania. By offering a cost-effective, eco-friendly option, COCOBOARD™ improves the affordability and availability of quality building materials, benefiting both construction companies and individual builders.

COCOBOARD™'s solution has the potential to create a positive ripple effect across Tanzania's economy and environment, empowering marginalized communities, reducing deforestation, and increasing access to sustainable construction materials.

COCOBOARD™ is led by a diverse, representative team with deep roots in the Tanzanian communities it aims to serve.

The Managing Director is Nchambi Nalija, who has over 15 years of experience working directly with local waste picker communities and small-scale farmers.

Joining Neema on the core team are:

• Hashim Mwamba, Chief Operations Officer, with over a decade of experience managing agricultural supply chains and waste management initiatives across rural Tanzania.

• Zainab Mrisho, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, a respected community organizer with strong relationships with local government and NGOs working on sustainable development.

• Salehe Magai, Technical Director, an engineer with expertise in materials science and manufacturing processes tailored for the Tanzanian context.

• Mariam Suleiman, Chief Financial Officer, a social entrepreneur with a track record of securing funding for innovative, impact-driven ventures.

This cross-functional team, which reflects the diversity of the communities COCOBOARD™ serves, has been intentionally designed to ensure the solution is rooted in the real-world needs and priorities of Tanzanian waste pickers, farmers, and construction workers. Regular community engagement and co-creation sessions guide every aspect of COCOBOARD™'s product development and implementation strategy.

COCOBOARD™ has already launched its innovative building material solution in 3 regions of Tanzania, where it is actively working with a network of over 50 local waste pickers and 25 small-scale farmers to aggregate the raw agricultural waste materials needed for production.

The company has established a small-scale manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 500 NatuRewood™ composite panels per month. Initial product testing and validation has demonstrated the panels are 2-3 times stronger and more durable than traditional wood-based alternatives, while also being naturally flame retardant and anti-fungal without any harmful chemicals.

COCOBOARD™ has served over 15 direct beneficiaries so far, including the waste pickers and farmers who have partnered with the company. The team is now focused on iterating on the product design and business model to optimize the solution for wider adoption and scale-up.

While still in the early stages, COCOBOARD™ has secured $42,000 in investment capital to support its ongoing pilot phase. The company has also begun building relationships with 10 local construction companies and 5 key policymakers to further validate the market potential of its eco-friendly building materials in Tanzania.

The comprehensive community engagement and co-creation approach taken by the COCOBOARD™ team has been crucial in shaping the solution to meet the specific needs and priorities of its target beneficiaries, positioning the company well for successful scale-up in the months and years ahead.

COCOBOARD™ is applying to Solve to access the comprehensive suite of resources, connections, and support that the program can provide to help us overcome the key barriers we face in scaling our innovative building materials solution in Tanzania.

Specifically, we are seeking Solve's assistance in addressing the following challenges:

Financial Barriers: As a early-stage social enterprise, COCOBOARD™ has limited access to the patient, risk-tolerant capital needed to invest in the infrastructure and inventory required for large-scale production and distribution. The funding, grants, and investor introductions offered through Solve could be transformative in unlocking our growth potential.

Technical Barriers: While we have developed a robust proprietary manufacturing process, we continue to face technical hurdles in optimizing our production efficiency and product quality. Solve's network of global experts and innovators could provide invaluable guidance and support to help us overcome these challenges.

Market Barriers: Penetrating the entrenched traditional construction market in Tanzania and shifting buyer preferences towards more sustainable building materials is an ongoing battle. Solve's platform for connecting us with potential customers, partners, and policymakers could be instrumental in expanding our market reach and driving greater adoption of COCOBOARD™.

By addressing these critical barriers, Solve's support could catalyze COCOBOARD™'s ability to scale its impact, creating new economic opportunities for waste pickers and farmers while significantly reducing deforestation in Tanzania. This aligns perfectly with Solve's mission to source, support, and scale solutions that improve the lives of underserved communities around the world.

COCOBOARD™'s solution is innovative in several key ways:

Transformative Waste Utilization: Rather than simply recycling agricultural waste, COCOBOARD™ has developed a proprietary process to upcycle these byproducts into a high-performance building material. This transforms what was previously considered waste into a valuable, in-demand product, creating new economic opportunities for marginalized waste picker and farming communities.

Eco-Friendly Manufacturing: The thermal compression molding technique used to produce COCOBOARD™'s NatuRewood™ panels is a carbon-neutral process that avoids the use of harmful chemicals or adhesives. This stands in stark contrast to the energy-intensive, chemically-laden methods employed in traditional wood-based construction materials.

Sustainable Construction Alternative: By offering a cost-effective, durable, and eco-friendly substitute for timber, COCOBOARD™ has the potential to disrupt the entire construction supply chain in Tanzania. As builders and developers increasingly seek out green building solutions, COCOBOARD™'s innovative material could become the new industry standard, catalyzing a broader shift towards more sustainable built environments.

Circularity and Scalability: COCOBOARD™'s closed-loop model, which sources waste inputs and returns a 100% compostable product, exemplifies the principles of a circular economy. This scalable, replicable approach could be adapted to tackle waste challenges and create green jobs in other agricultural economies around the world.

By addressing the interlinked challenges of waste management, deforestation, and sustainable construction through a single innovative solution, COCOBOARD™ offers a compelling model for how to drive systemic change and catalyze positive impacts at scale. Solve's support could be instrumental in helping us unlock the full transformative potential of this solution.

COCOBOARD™'s theory of change is grounded in the premise that by creating a new market for agricultural waste, we can generate sustainable livelihoods for marginalized waste picker and farming communities, while also reducing deforestation and the environmental impact of construction in Tanzania.

Key activities (within 12 months):
- Aggregating 6,000 metric tons of coconut husks, 2,000 metric tons of sugarcane fiber, and other agricultural byproducts from a network of over 50 local waste pickers and 25 small-scale farmers
- Converting these waste materials into 13,000 high-performance, eco-friendly NatuRewood™ building panels per month through a proprietary thermal compression molding process
- Distributing the NatuRewood™ panels to 10 construction companies, builders, and real estate developers as a sustainable alternative to traditional timber-based products

Short-term Outputs (within 18 months):
- Increased and stabilized incomes for over 120 waste pickers and 130 small-scale farmers, generating an additional $75,000 in annual income
- Reduced volume of 15,000 metric tons of organic waste going to landfills or being burned, improving local environmental conditions
- Introduction of a cost-effective, 2-3 times more durable, and naturally flame retardant construction material to the Tanzanian market

Long-term Outcomes (within 3-5 years):
- Improved economic security and well-being for marginalized waste picker and farming communities, lifting 750 people out of poverty
- Reduced 20,000 metric tons of deforestation and 5,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction industry in Tanzania annually
- Wider adoption of sustainable building practices, catalyzing a 30% shift towards more climate-smart infrastructure development in the country

Evidence from our pilot phase demonstrates the strong demand for COCOBOARD™'s solution among both waste suppliers and construction customers. Third-party research also highlights the significant environmental and social benefits of transitioning to a circular, waste-based economy. By addressing these interlinked challenges, COCOBOARD™ can create a ripple effect of positive change across Tanzania.

COCOBOARD™'s primary impact goals are to:

1. Improve the economic security and well-being of at least 750 marginalized waste pickers and small-scale farmers in Tanzania within 3-5 years.

2. Reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction industry in Tanzania by 20,000 metric tons and 5,000 metric tons respectively over the same 3-5 year period.

3. Catalyze a 30% shift towards more sustainable and climate-smart building practices in Tanzania through the wider adoption of COCOBOARD™'s eco-friendly construction materials.

We are measuring progress towards these goals using the following key indicators:

Economic Impact:
- Number of waste pickers and small-scale farmers engaged with COCOBOARD™
- Total additional income generated for these households (USD)
- Percentage of participants reporting improved economic security and well-being

Environmental Impact:
- Total volume of agricultural waste diverted from landfills or burning (metric tons)
- Reduction in deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction (metric tons)
- Percentage of COCOBOARD™ customers/projects replacing traditional timber-based products

Market Transformation:
- Number of construction companies, builders, and developers using COCOBOARD™ products
- Percentage of overall construction projects in Tanzania utilizing sustainable building materials
- Positive shifts in policy and procurement incentives supporting green construction

By closely tracking these metrics, COCOBOARD™ is able to monitor and evaluate our progress towards driving meaningful, measurable impact for waste pickers, farmers, and the broader Tanzanian construction industry. The data gathered also informs our ongoing strategy and decision-making to maximize our social and environmental footprint.

The core technology powering COCOBOARD™'s innovative building material solution is a proprietary thermal compression molding process that transforms agricultural waste into high-performance, eco-friendly composite panels.

At the heart of this process is a specialized machinery system that applies intense heat and pressure to densify and bind the raw coconut husks, sugarcane fibers, and other natural byproducts collected from local waste pickers and small-scale farmers. Through this thermal compression, the individual fibers and particles are fused together without the need for any harmful adhesives or chemicals.

The resulting NatuRewood™ panels exhibit superior strength, durability, and fire-resistance compared to traditional wood-based construction materials, while also being 100% biodegradable and compostable at the end of their lifecycle.

Importantly, this manufacturing technique is completely carbon-neutral, as it harnesses the inherent energy within the waste feedstock to power the thermal compression, rather than relying on fossil fuels. This closed-loop, waste-to-product process aligns with principles of circularity and sustainability.

In addition to the core manufacturing technology, COCOBOARD™ has also developed a custom data management and logistics platform to optimize the supply chain and traceability of its agricultural waste inputs. This digitally-enabled system allows the company to efficiently coordinate the collection, transportation, and inventory of materials across its network of waste pickers and farmers.

By seamlessly integrating advanced manufacturing, materials science, and digital supply chain management, COCOBOARD™ is able to reliably produce and deliver its innovative building solutions to construction companies and developers in Tanzania.

COCOBOARD™'s solution team consists of:

• 5 full-time staff members, including the Managing Director, Head of Manufacturing, Supply Chain Manager, Impact Evaluation Lead, and Marketing & Partnerships Coordinator.
• 3 part-time staff, comprising a Technical Advisor, Financial Analyst, and Business Development Associate.
• 4 contractors, including a Materials Science Specialist, Civil Engineer, Data Analyst, and Graphic Designer.

COCOBOARD™ has been working on developing and piloting its innovative building materials solution for the past 1.5 years.

The core founding team, led by Managing Director Nchambi Nalija, first conceptualized the idea and began prototyping the thermal compression molding process in early 2022. Over the course of the past 18 months, the team has steadily built out its operations, product capabilities, and supplier/customer networks through a series of pilot projects and small-scale production runs.

While still in the early stages, COCOBOARD™ has already made significant progress in validating the technical feasibility, market demand, and social/environmental impact of its waste-to-product model. 

At COCOBOARD™, we are deeply committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. From the outset, we have intentionally sought to create an environment that minimizes barriers to opportunity and empowers all team members to thrive.

Our leadership team is already quite diverse, with 3 out of 5 executives being women, and 60% of the overall staff identifying as members of marginalized racial/ethnic groups. We have also prioritized the inclusion of individuals with lived experience in waste picking, farming, and other informal economic sectors.

To further strengthen our DEI efforts, we have implemented the following key initiatives:

1) Recruitment & Hiring: We utilize inclusive job postings, diverse candidate slates, and structured behavioral interviews to identify and select the most qualified individuals regardless of background.

2) Equitable Compensation: All roles at COCOBOARD™ have clear, performance-based salary bands to ensure fair and equitable pay across the organization.

3) Professional Development: We provide ongoing mentorship, training, and upskilling opportunities to support the growth and advancement of our staff, with a particular focus on marginalized groups.

4) Inclusive Culture: Our team regularly engages in facilitated discussions and workshops on topics like unconscious bias, allyship, and intersectionality. We also celebrate diversity through events and community-building activities.

5) Accountability Measures: We track and report on key DEI metrics, such as representation, pay parity, and employee satisfaction. These metrics are tied to our leadership's performance objectives.

By embedding these practices into our organizational DNA, COCOBOARD™ aims to model a more just, equitable, and inclusive way of doing business - one that creates meaningful opportunities for all.

COCOBOARD™'s business model is centered on providing an innovative, eco-friendly building material solution that creates value for both construction companies and marginalized waste picker/farming communities in Tanzania.

Our primary customers are construction firms, builders, and real estate developers who are seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional timber-based products. We offer them our proprietary NatuRewood™ composite panels, which are cost-effective, highly durable, and naturally fire-resistant. These panels are priced at $2.50 per square foot, a competitive rate compared to wood-based alternatives.

By purchasing NatuRewood™, our construction customers are able to reduce their environmental footprint, meet green building standards, and appeal to increasingly eco-conscious consumers. In our pilot phase, we have already generated $21,000 in revenue from sales to 10 construction companies.

In parallel, COCOBOARD™ works with a network of over 50 local waste pickers and 25 small-scale farmers to aggregate the agricultural byproducts (coconut husks, sugarcane fiber, etc.) needed for our manufacturing process. We provide these suppliers with a stable, year-round income stream by purchasing their materials at fair market rates.

This dual-customer model allows COCOBOARD™ to drive positive social and environmental impact, while also building a financially sustainable business. The revenue generated from NatuRewood™ sales funds our ongoing operations, including the continued expansion of our agricultural waste supply chain.

Looking ahead, as we scale our production capacity and customer base, we aim to increase our annual revenue to $1 million within the next 3 years. This will enable us to deepen our impact on marginalized waste pickers, farmers, and the broader construction industry in Tanzania.

COCOBOARD™'s plan for achieving long-term financial sustainability is grounded in a hybrid revenue model that combines product sales, grants/investments, and strategic partnerships.

The primary source of revenue for our business is the sale of our NatuRewood™ building panels to construction companies, builders, and real estate developers. As mentioned earlier, we have already generated $21,000 in revenue from pilot sales to 10 customers at an average price of $2.50 per square foot. This product-based income covers our core manufacturing and logistical costs.

To further scale up production capacity and distribution, we are actively seeking grant funding and impact investment capital. We have secured $43,000 in seed funding from two local impact investors, and are in advanced discussions with several international donor organizations interested in supporting our circular economy model.

In addition, COCOBOARD™ is exploring strategic partnerships that could unlock new revenue streams. For example, we are in talks with the Tanzanian government to potentially provide our sustainable building materials for subsidized low-income housing projects. We are also exploring opportunities to license our proprietary thermal compression technology to other agricultural waste upcycling ventures in the region.

By diversifying our income sources in this way, COCOBOARD™ aims to achieve financial self-sufficiency within the next 3-5 years. Our projections indicate that a combination of panel sales, grants, investments, and strategic partnerships will enable us to cover all operational costs and generate a modest profit during this time.

The traction we have already gained with early customers, investors, and partners provides strong evidence that our hybrid revenue model is viable and scalable. We are confident that Solve's support could help unlock the next phase of COCOBOARD™'s growth and impact.