Gjenge Makers is building material from plastic waste
Location:
Nairobi, Kenya
Sector:
Manufacturing
The Challenge
Plastic pollution and housing crisis
Gjenge Makers is addressing a dual concern: the problem of plastic pollution and the Kenyan housing crisis. Each day, Nairobi alone generates 500 tons of plastic waste. Meanwhile, over 2 million households in Kenya lack access to adequate housing. One key driver of this is expensive building materials.
WE ARE
PAVING THE WAY
CONCRETE ALTERNATIVE
The innovation
Plastic Waste as Building Material
Gjenge Makers transforms plastic waste into durable and eco-friendly paving tiles and drywall bricks. To do so, they shred plastic waste, combine it with sand, and press it into blocks. Compared to concrete blocks, Gjenge’s products are up to 7 times stronger, significantly lighter and cheaper.
THE STANDOUT
Why Gjenge Makers?
Gjenge Makers is an example of the resilience and resourcefulness of many African founders. When Nzambi Matee started out, she had no money to buy machines. So she went to a scrapyard and found a old Chinese excavator. The hydraulic arm was still functioning, so she used it to build her first hydraulic press.
AFFORDABLE SOLUTION
Key Facts
Start-up Impact
Economics
- Stable earnings in production for women and youth groups
- Increased income for garbage collectors
- Stronger construction industry due to more affordable materials
Climate
- Contributing to circular economy
- Less CO2 emission during transportation
People
Meet the Founder
Nzambi Matee
Founder & CEO of Gjenge Makers
Nzambi is a materials engineer from Nairobi with a bachelor’s degree in physics, a curious mind and boundless entrepreneurial energy. She was named Young Champion of the Earth 2020 Africa winner at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Together with a team of fellow engineers, all tired of witnessing the negative impact plastic waste was having on the Kenyan landscape, she decided to find a solution for the problem.
OUR Portfolio
See other Start-ups
- Nairobi, Kenya
Malaica
- Mekelle, Ethiopia
MG Electromechanical Engineering
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
BeSingularity
Donate to Start-ups like Gjenge Makers
Donating to Impacc is crucial because it empowers high-potential start-ups to create positive impact, drive sustainable growth, and contribute to societal and environmental well-being.
