Trailblazing African innovators awarded £4 million to curb plastic pollution and protect the ocean

● Nine projects from across sub-Saharan Africa named winners of the Afri-Plastics Challenge by the Government of Canada and Challenge Works. ● Winners include scale-ups providing new income streams to local families collecting recyclables and innovators converting plastic waste into affordable cooking gas. ● Biodegradable bioplastics made from invasive weeds growing in Lake Victoria, homeware products made from coconut fibre, and a diapers-on-demand service – making cloth nappies an easy option for new parents – also share in the prize. ● Projects that encourage fashion designers to make sustainable choices, virtual reality storytelling to influence behaviour change and a mobile app that awards cash incentives for recycling have also been successful.