Ouroots Africa

 8-12M tons of plastic pollution make it into the world’s oceans. Straws are one of the most widely reported plastic items found during beach clean-up.The European parliament has voted to ban disposable plastic products across EU by 2021 ,Starbucks has declared to ban plastic straws in all stores by 2020. These are indubitable milestones in the anti-plastic wave in the world, fixing a problem by cutting it from the root but this does not offer a holistic solution.

We offer alternatives to single use plastic by growing natural Luseke grass & converting it into useful products such as drinking straws & coffee/cock tail stirrers.

By using the luseke grass , we are introducing a new cash crop to rural women farmers which takes short harvest periods, grows all year around, transforms individuals, their communities, saves & benefits the environment.

Our world has a problem, it’s called plastic. 8-12M tons of plastic pollution make it into the world’s oceans but remember that the effects of climate change affects the entire 7.7 billion people but in different ways. Straws are one of the most widely reported plastic items found during beach clean-up .The European parliament has voted to ban disposable single use plastic products across EU by 2021 ,Starbucks has declared to ban plastic straws in all stores by 2020 and many other companies and countries are continuing to follow suit . These are indubitable milestones in the anti-plastic wave in the world, fixing a problem by cutting it from the root but this does not offer a holistic solution. Our habit of using plastic may have begun due to the accessibility of the product, but stopping production does not stop demand. The consequences of plastic production & consumption are far from the eyes of the individual consumer and investor thus are too often overlooked. Most of us favor comfort & habit over our environment .In Uganda, many men, women & children are not even aware of the dangers of plastic pollution to the environment.

Ouroots Africa is completely local, from the origins of the concept to the manual style of production. We want to show the world our original culture with a new product, the Luseke grass that can be grown into different products. Using low technology in the manufacturing process of our product, enables us to easily collaborate with rural women farmers; we’re giving them an area within their expertise, agriculture which is the back bone of Uganda’s economy.

By growing Luseke grass, we are introducing a new cash crop to rural farmers that does not only bring them extra income but also benefits the community as a whole while at the same time saving the environment. we have been able to partner with 10 rural women farmers and we are to increase the number as our social business grows .We intend to employ 2000 women in production and partner with 500 rural farmers in Luseke grass growing by 2020.Imagine a product that benefits individuals, their communities & saves the environment to benefit all of us in the long run.

Ouroots Africa offers alternatives to single use plastic, by growing natural plants and converting into useful products such as drinking straws, coffee/tea stirrers & bathing sponges. Ouroots Africa is tackling the plastic challenge from the root of the problem; production while giving alternatives because we understand that stopping production does not stop demand.

Ouroots Africa is completely local, from the origins of the concept to the manual style of production. The African culture is a muse in the west but in Africa it is the western culture that serves as a source of daily inspiration. We want to show the world our original culture with a new product, the Luseke grass that can be grown into different products. Using low technology in the manufacturing process of our product, enables us to easily collaborate with rural women farmers; we’re giving them an area within their expertise, agriculture which is the back bone of Uganda’s economy.  We have introduced new cash crops for rural farmers that take short harvest periods and grows all year around.

Just like we grow food, we can grow products for daily use just like our ancestors did.

The Luseke straw together with other grown products had been forgotten until now when we need them the most as the best alternatives to single use plastic .Since farmers have not been growing it, we are currently going to different bushes, farms and gardens scouting and collecting these magical plants , sort ,cut and sanitize the products before we package .The Luseke straw is an entirely natural product and naturally hollow shaped, through its production process to after its use, it is a 100% biodegradable & compostable.

Globally there other alternatives to single use plastic like paper straws, metallic straws, bamboo straws but Ouroots Africa Luseke grass straw and coffee/cocktail stirrers are the best alternatives to single use plastic on the market. Not only are we introducing a new cash crop that take a short harvest periods and grows all year around, we are also saving the environment at the same time .The Luseke straw for example is an entirely natural product and naturally hollow shaped, through its low technology production process to after its use, it is a 100% biodegradable and compostable making it the best natural alternative to plastic and any one can be trained in growing this new cash crop with ease. Since our ancestors already used it in the past, the process of production is of course not complex compared to paper and metallic options .

Ouroots Africa started in March 2019 but we have already sold over 1500 drinking straws to bars, restaurants, eco lodges, individuals and hotels in Uganda in just a few months and we have orders in line for 3000 or more from around the world .

Ouroots Africa uses a completely local technology , from the origins of the concept to the manual style of production. Our low technology process involves organic farming with organic manure which is followed by careful harvesting of the straws that seem to have hardened ,then collection and piling in bundles , sorting , transporting to the production center using motor cycles .

At the production center , we again sort , boil , sort again ,sanitize and package ready for the market .

Using low technology in the manufacturing process of our products not only reduces the carbon foot print but also employs rural women farmers while at the same time buying this grass from those rural farmers that grow the Luseks grass hence improving livelihoods at the same time benefiting the environment.

 Since the Luseke straw is an entirely natural product and naturally hollow shaped, the process of production is shortened to collecting , sorting ,cutting ,sorting , sanitizing and packaging but  through its production process to after its use, it is a 100% biodegradable & compostable. No added chemicals whatever.

With the current state of climate change and its effects , there is need for urgent solutions to tackle the current global effects of climate change and tackling the problem from the root cause which is production could be the best alternative solution though we must understand that stopping production doesn't stop demand .

The Luseke straw together with other grown products had been forgotten until now when we need them the most as the best alternatives to single use plastic .We are introducing a new cash crop to rural farmers that take short harvest periods, grows all year around. The Luseke straw is an entirely natural product and naturally hollow shaped, through its production process to after its use, it is a 100% biodegradable and compostable. Using low technology in the manufacturing process of our product, enables us to easily collaborate with rural women farmers; we’re giving them an area within their expertise, agriculture which is the back bone of Uganda’s economy.

Within three months of establishment , we have confirmed orders from different groups of people including hotels , cafes , bars ,lodges and this is an indicator that our product could be one of the solutions offering alternatives to single use plastics. 

In Just three months we have partnered with 50 rural women who will be growing the grass and we buy from them through fair trade .In one year , we will be partnering with 100 rural women farmers to grow the cash crop .In five years we will be collaborating /patterning with 500 rural women farmers .

In just three months , we have employed 5 women part time,who support us in sorting, cutting , sanitizing, packaging and delivering to customers .In one year , we will be employing 20 women and men for production .In five years , we intend to employ 400 rural women and men farmers .

As for serving our customer base , we intend to serve 1 million customers of our alternative products within five years. 

2020 , we intend to train more 100 rural women farmers to be able to grow our natural Luseke grass in the comfort of their gardens and land with ease and control so that they are able to grow their own food for home consumption to feed their families while they also grow our straws .The beauty about the Luseke grass is that it does not need alot of care .It grows in bushes hence enabling the women ample time to continue with other activities that they enjoy to do in their daily lives. 

Our five years intention is to spread the gospel of growing our own products .Just like we grow food, we can grow products for daily consumption just like our ancestors did if we are to save the environment. We intend to have 500 women trained in Luseke grass growing but this time emphasizing fair trade in whatever we do to enable our women farmers to be able to feel for themselves the impact our cash crop makes in their lives and their children. Our intention is to change the face of farming in Uganda where women farmers use their extra un cleared land for our cash crop without having to forego one crop for the other .With ease and control, our women farmers can have all the freeresponsibility (Freedom and responsibility) they need to carter for their families while making a contribution in making our world a better place by contributing to the environment

Many people in Uganda do not understand the urgency of protecting the environment to benefit all of us. To many, plastic could be bad but its available everywhere. So, spreading the gospel of going back to our roots just like in the past does not make sense to them. Some are not even aware that the Luseke grass is grown in Uganda and had been used before for many centuries before plastic was invented.

 We have customers in different countries around the globe in just three months. We have steadily secured three orders and sold over 30000 straws to hotels, eco lodges, event organizers, restaurants and individuals in Uganda alone. We have pending customers in Europe, USA and in Africa but the challenge is full filling all the intellectual properties needed for export, the costs involved are quite high for a promising and relevant start up like ours that incurs a lot of financial expenses already in going to different places scouting and collecting the Luseke grass from bushes since no one needed it until now.

We have more orders than what we can actually supply to our customers honestly because we do not have a steady supply of Luseke grass to meet the increasing demand yet with our intention of supplying to more customers, we need to quickly improve our transportation scheme where we have trucks going around villages and asking elders to show us the Luseke grass and what we intend to use it for.

We have more orders than what we can actually supply to our customers honestly because we do not have a steady supply of Luseke grass to meet the increasing demand yet with our intention of supplying to more customers, we need to quickly improve our transportation scheme where we have trucks going around villages and asking elders to show us the Luseke grass and what we intend to use it for. Since we do not have the financial capacity to buy trucks, we are currently using motorcycles that we hire to move around collecting the Luseke grass as we raise funds to get trucks that carry more grass in one go as our solution for now.

We are in touch with a probono lawyer who supports start ups that are making a difference to the environment while benefiting communities .She already started giving us support since June 25th 2019.Before this year ends, we will have patent rights, organic and standards certification stamps. 

we are a team of five people with different strength yet with the same vision.We are currently running our social enterprise on part time and volunteers .

5 full time volunteers 

10 part time support 

50 rural women farmers who we recruited to grow the grass for now

Nakawuki Stella Lukwago 34 years .

Lead Link – Product quality & fair trade .A Social Business Consultant for the last 5 years .A certified lobbyst and a social business mentor .Stella has started many startups in the last five years  that have failed before because of different reasons. She brings alot of learnings and experiences from all her  4 failed projects .

Stella has mentored social businesses that have been recognized globally like Ask Without Change , Gifted Hands Network ,Kimuli Fashion-ability , Uganics etc.

Shira Turbowicz 26

Lead Link -International brand identity& marketing. Studies communication in London’s Central Saint Martins. Has a bachelors degree in Business Administration .

Tony Wamboga 25

Lead Link –Public relations &communication. A social Business Scholar at Social Innovation Academy. He was a previous co founder of a very promising start up that failed because of very many reasons and he brings on the table alot of experiences and learning from his failed project.

Semambo Akram 21 

Lead Link – Production & packaging. A scholar at Social Innovation Academy , brings a different perceptive in business and compliments the team .At just 21 , his hard work and specific to detail improves the quality of our  products.

 We are currently partnering with social Innovation Academy whose mentors and facilitators, push our team to our fullest potential and that is why with just three months of starting , Ouroots Africa is already hitting international news .Through Social Innovation Academy .We have been scheduled for 2 interviews with DW (a Germany based TV and CGTN, a Chinese network .

We are currently partnering with Gejja Women Foundation whose big numbers of rural women they work with provides us with a direct gate way and access to rural

Women farmers who are already organized into small  groups .

With support and collaboration with rural women farmers who already have and those who will grow the Luseke grass and other plants  , Ouroots Africa offers alternatives to single use plastic by growing natural grass &converting it into useful products like drinking straws & coffee stirrers that are 100% biodegradable & compostable , which we sell to cafes, restaurants , Eco- lodges , bars ,event organizers and environmentally conscious individuals with the aim of tackling the plastic problem from its root cause which is production while understanding that stopping production does not stop demand .

Our path to financial sustainability is through sales from our unique products to our customers through different channels .

Imagine if 100,000 people bought 1 pack of 24 drinking straws from Ouroots Africa each year at USD 8 , we shall have revenue of USD 7M and this will enable us run our costs and expand to other regions and countries around the world .

We are planning to design a pre order crowd funding campaign where potential customers will be required to pre order for their straws and stirrers and then we deliver later may be within 3 months .We imagine that  50000 customers around the ordered for 1 pack of 24 drinking straws at  USD 7 or 1 pack of 24 coffee/tea/cocktail stirrers at USD 7 , we will be able to have revenue of USD 3.5M in one go.I know we are dreaming so big in such a short time but what if its possible with the kind of unique product we have ? We are willing to take the risk and try that kind of campaign where people are not giving us free money but rather buy our biodegradable products .

Before we are even selected ,MIT Solve is already supporting us through giving us feedback through out the process .Who does that ? To me this is already a new way of doing things which i have never seen anywhere else. MIT Solve is helping us all to be winners by giving us support to structure continuously our start up. Even if Ouroots Africa does not win ,i feel we have already been supported through structuring at an extent .  

Continuous and new learning ,networks and connections  , mentor ship and new experiences from interacting with different people. The first time we pitched earlier this year  , we were able to win the pitching competitions at the Social Innovation Academy and we were also able to get connections and feedback that has improved our start up .Now just imagine Ouroots Africa pitching to all those people from diverse backgrounds , new doors of possibilities will be opened for us by just being part of MIT Solve .

Agribusiness organisations that focus on social innovations that benefit the individuals , the communities and the environment .

Organisations that are experienced in fair trade and how it can be done since we are working with rural women farmers who could easily be manipulated with very little money .

Since Ouroots Africa offers alternatives to single use plastic by growing natural grass &converting it into useful products like drinking straws & coffee stirrers , we want the whole product including its packaging to be 100 % biodegradable and compostable being considered for GM prize will enable us to continue designing products that are 100 % biodegradable and compostable while at the same time ensuring that all our packaging is 100% bio degradable and compostable .Currently our products is 100% biodegradable and compostable but our packaging uses both paper and banana fiber material which doesn't make it 100% biodegradable and compostable like we intended it to be .

Currently , making the whole packaging bio degradable and compostable will make the product more expensive for the customer which was not our intention .So being selected for the GM prize will make our packaging dreams a reality .

We have two kinds of packaging we are looking at :

1 - Banana fibre packaging since its also just grown and takes very few weeks to decompose but making it into a high quality packaging product needs alot of expertise  which we do not have currently and we need to out source it .

2 - Bark cloth made from the skin of trees which our ancestors used for clothing even before colonialism .Currently this material is what is used in our culture to bury people in because it decomposes .

Since Ouroots Africa offers alternatives to single use plastic by growing natural grass &converting it into useful products like drinking straws & coffee stirrers by partnering with rural women farmers to grow , cut , collect , sort , sanitize  and make packaging being considered for the women prize will enable Ouroots Africa employ more rural woman farmers into our product development and production process . We had earlier intended to include more women groups into our process by  employing more  rural women leaving with disabilities but those that can use their hands to sort , cut ,sanitize and make packaging .

With Innovation for Women prize , we can be able to have a mixer of rural women farmers as a way of improving their livelihoods  , improving their communities while at the same time benefiting the environment .

yes we would be interested