Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-02-23 13:39:40
A Kenyan company is making a difference by turning waste into valuable resources. The company, Kuza Freezer, based in Mombasa, collects plastic waste from the beach and transforms it into freezers for small-scale businesses in the fish value chain. The waste is broken down into pellets and then moulded into cold storage units, each equipped with a battery that can be charged using a solar panel. With just a two-hour charge, the freezers can operate for up to 7 hours, providing much-needed cold storage solutions to local businesses.
Purity Gakuo, the CEO of Kuza Freezer, explains that the company has been running for three years and has delivered over 350 machines to customers, including fish traders, poultry and milk vendors, and ice salespeople. The range of products offered by Kuza Freezer includes static freezers for fishing boats, portable freezers for premises, and even a freezer that can be mounted to the back of a motorbike for easy transportation of fish.
Customers receive free installation and training with each purchase, and the company fits a tracking device to monitor the units and provide timely repairs if needed. The freezers are sold for Ksh 100,000 ($700), with the option to pay in instalments, making them a valuable investment for businesses looking to reduce post-harvest losses and improve their income.
One customer, Abdalla Ali, highlights the importance of cold storage for fish traders like himself, who face challenges with storage and transportation of their catch. By using Kuza Freezer’s products, Ali can ensure the quality of his fish is maintained during transit, reducing the risk of losses and increasing his profits.
Nickson Otieno, CEO of a sustainability consulting firm, emphasizes the impact of Kuza Freezer’s innovative approach to addressing two key challenges facing Kenya: food security and plastic waste pollution. The freezers not only help reduce food losses by providing reliable cold storage solutions but also contribute to environmental sustainability by recycling plastic waste into functional products.
In conclusion, Kuza Freezer is not just a company selling cold storage units; it is a champion of sustainability and innovation, demonstrating how businesses can make a positive impact on their communities and the environment. By turning waste into treasure, Kuza Freezer is not only providing essential services to local businesses but also setting an example for others to follow in the fight against food insecurity and plastic pollution.
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