Yesterday, sustainable packaging start-up Notpla, with the Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Innovation, launched a pilot for the Ooho product. The product is edible and is intended to replace water sachet. The innovation, is being tested over the next few months and will be available in canteens and shops on the University of Ghana, Legon campus.
Could this project be the first step in helping reduce plastic pollution in Ghana? Absolutely! This pilot should be applauded as an initiative with great promise. However, we must also look at some of the negative indirect consequences that may occur as well. WIEGO estimates that there are 3,000-5,000 waste pickers in Accra. 67% of community waste pickers Environment360 has worked with during the past five years collect water sachet as a primary material. 2017 research published in IOP publication by Wardrop, et al, estimate that 63% of homes drink water sachet. This lightweight material, easily found in communities, is often picked by women for free.
However, if Ooho becomes the norm, what happens to the women collecting this material from communities? As we start to drive forward with innovation, it is critical that we start to focus on developing the green skills of informal waste workers to ensure incorporation into circular initiatives. The 2018 ILO report on Green jobs in Ghana notes that there is an abundance of low-skilled labour, but a lack of semi-skilled, highly skilled and vocational and technical skilled persons. To ensure achievement of the 2030 goals, we must ensure that innovation does not contribute to the poverty gap. The best way to do that is provide informal sector waste workers with skills to move up the economic ladder.
Acquiring of green skills does two things for informal waste workers. The first is that it increases their resilience from market and eco-system changes, giving them a varied skill set that can be applied to other activities. Second, it increases their incomes and thereby naturally incentivizes them to continue their careers in the waste management field. Providing informal waste workers with green skills, also provides a ready, experienced work force that can feed into the growing eco-system of circular businesses.
To achieve this mission, Environment360 is has announced its GREESD strategy. The Green Skills Development (GREESD) strategy actively provides machine training and technical skills to informal sector waste workers to prepare them to be key players in the green economy. This active strategy intends to create employment, reduce poverty and support climate actions. Most importantly though, it is ensures the most vulnerable of our population are not left behind as we start to mainstream innovation, science and technology.
To find out more about our GREESD activities, please learn more about our activities at the Circular Innovation Hub.
