Responsible Sourcing Initiative Creates Waste Pickers Hub in Kenya 

The Circulate Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge in emerging markets, has announced the expansion of its Responsible Sourcing Initiative into Africa, with the first implementation project launched in Kenya, and Ethiopia to follow next year.

A global program that brings together brands, investors, recyclers, and waste worker organizations, the Responsible Sourcing Initiative aims to address the most pressing human rights issues in the plastics recycling value chain.

With funding support from The Coca-Cola Foundation and IKEA Foundation, The Circulate Initiative will work with Nairobi-based recycler Mr. Green Africa to implement the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Plastics with select suppliers in the value chain. Launched in 2024, the Harmonized Framework is the first global effort to establish harmonized and actionable guidelines to implement responsible sourcing practices in the recycled plastics value chain.

Kenya generates approximately 983,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only about 27% of this waste is currently collected, with 8% recycled and the remainder disposed of in landfills or dumpsites.

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While there are no official estimates of the number of waste pickers, the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association reports 46,000 members. These workers play a critical role in bridging the gap in waste collection services and supplying materials for recycling, and their efforts should be recognized at national and local levels.

“Our launch in Africa is a significant milestone,” Annerieke Douma, Senior Director of Programs at The Circulate Initiative, said. “As the first regional approach, it allows us to take learnings from our work to date to the broader ecosystem in Africa, addressing human rights issues for informal workers across the continent. The Kenyan project is the first step towards scaling responsible sourcing practices across Africa aimed at protecting workers who are at the frontlines of the fight against plastic pollution.”

Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation said informal waste workers are critical to efforts to build a more sustainable future and help reduce packaging waste. Pagoaga said the Responsible Sourcing Initiative demonstrates the power of collective action at scale that aims to create real impact and to ensure the people behind recycling efforts are recognized and protected.

Wages, safety and systemic barriers

The announcement comes as stakeholders gathered in Nairobi in May to review a baseline assessment of Mr. Green Africa’s value chain. Mr. Green Africa is a Kenya-based recycling company whose model integrates the informal waste sector into its value chain to increase transparency and improve working conditions and income opportunities.

With implementation of the Harmonized Framework already underway, the baseline assessment identified areas of strength and best practice, as well as key risk areas requiring further cooperation and collaboration to address. These include instances of low pay, unsafe working conditions, and poor access to social and financial services for some informal waste sector workers connected to Mr. Green Africa’s value chain. Opportunities for progress were also identified, with most waste collectors demonstrating a strong awareness of unions or associations and a willingness to engage with them.

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Keiran Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Mr. Green Africa said the technology-driven plastics collection model is designed to integrate informal waste workers into a transparent, inclusive value chain. “By joining the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, we can expand our network and increase the supply of responsibly sourced recycled plastic in Africa, whilst improving livelihoods and conditions for these workers,” he said.

Kenya will be the fourth implementation market for the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, following similar projects in India, Indonesia and Viet Nam. Globally, the initiative aims to improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers, secure the commitment of over 50 global brands, investors, recyclers, and aggregators to align with the Harmonized Framework and deliver 100,000 tonnes of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.