TOP INNOVATOR PUSHES AHEAD DESPITE FAILED PLASTIC TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

The Flipflopi Project, an East African movement continues to close the loop on waste plastic

“We use heritage boat building and waste-plastic innovation to create public engagement and drive policy action to ban all single-use plastics and ensure all other plastics are part of a circular economy.”-- Dipesh Pabari, Co-Founder The Flipflopi Project

In 2022, Flipflopi was awarded the prestigious FCDO’s SMEP Grant to tackle marine ecosystem health challenges which led to the creation of an innovative community-centered programme that is ‘closing the loop’ on waste plastic by combining indigenous knowledge of boatbuilding with modern innovation.

The Flipflopi Team speaks of the Mission moving forward with WATERTODAY

By Suzanne Forcese

WT: You had hoped to provide us with some good news following the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations.

Flipflopi: Despite over 100 countries advocating for a cap in global production of plastics, the world failed to sign off on a binding Treaty. However, as many have remarked, better something that would have substantive commitments than a watered-down agreement that does nothing but perpetuate the status quo. In the meantime, we need to keep pushing ahead, tackling what is at hand in the best way possible and keep pushing for effective reduction measures.

WT: Since WT last spoke with Co-Founder Dipesh Pabari The Flipflopi Project has garnered awards and global recognition while covering a lot of water in a boat made of recycled plastic flipflops from the beautiful beaches in Lamu. Please give us a quick synopsis of the Flipflopi Project.

Flipflopi: Since 2019 we have been sailing Flipflopi Ndogo - the world’s first recycled plastic sailing dhow - on expeditions - bringing international awareness to plastic pollution, engaging East Africans in alternative ways to use waste plastic, and advocating for regional legislative action.

We are applying our ‘full systems approach’ to end plastic pollution by working with remote shoreline communities to “close the loop” on waste plastics: recovering and recycling waste plastics to manufacture sustainable solutions including artisanal boats and traditional furniture that are all rooted in local heritage.

Our approach recognizes Africa's inherent circular economy potential, leveraging reuse and repair culture while addressing education gaps and preserving indigenous craftsmanship.

WT: Recently Flipflopi attended Africa’s first Climate and Health Conference, in Zimbabwe covering the topics of Plastic Pollution, Public Health and Climate Change. Please tell us about the Flipflopi Project presentation.

Flipflopi: Davina Ngei, our Program Manager, was invited to present and discuss the nexus between plastic waste, climate change and health across the plastic production and waste management value chain as well as the sector's rapidly growing contribution to GHG emissions.

Plastics production and waste management currently contributes 4% of GHG emissions and is projected to rise to 19% by 2040. The health risks from direct exposure have been well documented at all stages of the life cycle.

Recycling alone cannot solve the problem but if done properly and with the right intentions, can have a positive impact at multiple levels.

A recent independent study showed that building boats from recycled plastic waste results in an impressive life gain of 24 years per 1 thousand Tonnes of recycled plastic.

The study states in its conclusions:

“These benefits primarily arise from the efficiency of the recycling processes, including considerations for electricity and water consumption. Additionally, the gains are significantly impacted by the energy and resource intensity of the products that the recycled materials replace and the emissions profiles of these substituted products. Thus, the overall health benefits are a function of both the effectiveness of the recycling process and the environmental footprint of the alternative product systems.”

WT: The former Kenyan Minister for the Environment has said "The Flipflopi Project is playing a vital role in engaging the public at large in thinking about plastic differently. They have a colourful and innovative way of talking about the issue – and their message is really hitting home, reaching parts of the population that other initiatives seldom do.”

How are you moving forward with your mission in creating global awareness and action?

Flipflopi: We’re helping to drive policy action to ban all unnecessary single use plastics in Kenya and across East Africa. We have published a draft Bill together with the Africa Legal Network that will soon be tabled at the EA Legislative Assembly and have kickstarted a grassroots campaign.

Our vision is to end single-use plastics and ensure that all other plastics are part of a circular economy.

We are taking our lessons and processes one step further and applying the same high-quality approach to making long lasting traditional furniture that ensures maximum benefit to our community and environment.

WT: What are the ultimate goals?

Flipflopi: The ultimate goal is an inclusive circular economy for all.

We are using a systemic approach to build working replicable models for circularity of plastics in peri-urban areas with little to no waste management and rapidly growing populations. The aim of this model is to lay the correct foundation and systems to prevent us getting to the mammoth crises that countries in Southeast Asia or the global north are in; and at the same time to find optimal localized and cost-effective technologies to tackle the full cycle from recovery to end product.

We hope to create a comprehensive toolkit that can be used by local governments and communities. At the same, we are building our knowledge and skills about various plastic based materials that are locally abundant and the extent of their circularity, which hopefully helps to inform regional and multilateral approaches to plastic pollution being discussed in East Africa, and at the global level.

WT: It really does take innovation to solve problems. What was the basis of your innovative creation. As an East-African movement what inspiration can you impart to our viewers and innovators to motivate them in solving the global plastics problem?

Flipflopi: Innovative solutions like ours, seeking to transform ocean-based and ocean-bound waste into something of value that can protect public, environmental and animal health are critical – and we are proud of the beautiful sustainable heritage furniture that we are making on our mission. We even made a throne that we presented to King Charles on his Kenyan tour!

When we were envisioning what we wanted, we dreamt of a beautiful pergola covered in fragrant flowers… that stood for our very essence and values of protecting the earth whilst representing our Gujarati-Swahili-Kenyan history.

For our global community think of ways to turn trash into something you value while protecting the earth, the oceans, and all life. Protect your history.