A sustainable initiative fully funded by the UNDP GEF SGP.
Enhancing livelihood of vulnerable groups through circular economy and development of green products as replacement of single use plastics
Circular Economy for the people by the people...the new norm for Sustainable Mauritius
Pole of Research on Natural Fibres and Bio-Composites
Project Background
It has been reported that the amount of plastics produced in the world every year has increased explosively from 2 million tons in 1950 to 368 million tons in 2019 (Plastic Soup Foundation, 2019). Around the world, people have realised the negative impact of petroleum based plastics on the environment, both terrestrial and marine. Researchers, worldwide are working towards the development of sustainable renewable materials to replace petroleum based plastics.
In line with this, the Mauritian government came with the banning of vest type plastic bags in 2016. As from 15 January 2021, the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) came into operation and banned the importation, manufacture, possession, sale, supply and use of not less than 10 non-biodegradable single use plastic products.
The Challenges
Even though the Control of Single Use Plastic Products Regulations came into force in 2021, a lot of single use plastic products can still be seen on the local market in Mauritius: packaging/wrapping of various foodstuffs, secondary packaging for beverages, fruit trays, cling films, packaging for toys, and many others. Click here
Since the above-mentioned regulation has been enforced, wholesalers have started importing bagasse based products (takeaways, plates etc.) as well as paper or carton-based disposable products for local consumption. With increase in the importation cost, freight cost and other related costs including VAT, the consumer is bearing all these expenses and people especially those with low income families are having difficulties in meeting both ends and having a decent livelihood.
Consequently, to support the initiative of the government to be a plastic free country in the near future, the challenges that the team members of the Pole of Research on Natural Fibres and Bio-Composites (PRNFBC) at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Mauritius intends to address is to manufacture locally made sustainable products from biomass such as natural plant fibres. Moreover, in a spirit to decrease the carbon footprint associated with the imported bagasse/paper/carton based products and to enhance the livelihood of vulnerable people locally, the project will encourage locally made products which will also be in line with the SDG 12 on sustainable production and consumption.
Main Aim
The project intends to help local entrepreneurs, farmers, women and young entrepreneurs, through SMEs, cooperative, women farmers’ associations, and vulnerable groups to manufacture sustainable and useful green end-products as alternatives to imported petroleum‑based plastics through the conversion of agro‑wastes such as banana stems, through training and technology transfer.
Thus, entrepreneurs farmers will be able to implement the concept of circular economy by using agro‑wastes as a source of sustainable fibre materials, earn additional incomes, become more resilient to the adverse effect of climate change and potentially improve food security for the local population through the use of existing cultivation and abandoned fertile land for the cultivation of specific food crops such as banana.
This project is fully financed by the Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the following project number MAR/SGP/OP6/Y8/CORE/PLA/2022/02.
How the project relates and will be contributing to the SGP Country Programme Strategy.
To be able to meet the challenges, local stakeholders, SMEs as well as associations of women and disabled persons will be trained on how to extract fibres from banana pseudostems and how to manufacture various products like paper bags, seedling pots, egg trays, shock absorbers in packaging boxes for fragile products such as glassware and bottles.
Outcomes and Impact
The project aspires to bring about permanent positive changes in terms of specific deliverables and to have a lasting visible effect on the community. To that effect the specific outcomes and impact of the project are herewith outlined.
What Are Fibres
Fibre is a hair-like material that can be obtained from nature or manmade, and which is very small in diameter compared to length. So, fibre is a material which is several hundred times as long as it is thick.
Fibres that can be derived or originated from natural renewable resources are called natural fibres. They are bio-based fibres of plant or animal origin or from mineral. The chart below provides an overview of the different categories of natural fibres.
National Workshop held at the
University of Mauritius on 26 October 2023
TRANSFORMATION OF BANANA PSEUDO STEM INTO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT
Visit to Potential Direct Beneficiaries
A number of visits were organized to interact with small cooperative associations, small & medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which are actively involved in daily activities; helping people within the local community in improving their livelihood through income generating tasks.
Direct Beneficiaries Seminars
The team has kicked start a series of focused group type seminar with organisations (such as NGOs, SMEs and Cooperative associations), which are potential direct beneficiaries to the UNDP GEF SGP funded project. Two such half-day seminars were organized on Wednesday 31st May and Friday 2nd June 2023 at the Conference Room, Textile Building, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit. Thirty-eight (38) participants representing twenty-eight (28) organisations/enterprises/NGOs/SMEs attended the two half-day seminars.
