As part of an exciting new Waste Industry House project, in partnership with BSN Entity Member Shoe Waste LLC, our teams traveled together to Nairobi, Kenya on an exploratory mission to develop a cross-diaspora shoe waste deconstruction training program with a future site for a related recycling and recovery center. This trip also presented an opportunity for Black Sustainability, Inc. to expand our Black & Green ecosystem mapping efforts and build new relationships in East Africa for the Black Sustainability Network (BSN).
Raising Awareness of Shoe Waste & Green Jobs
Our trip to Kenya trip was a culmination of a 5-month long education & outreach campaign on the impacts of shoe waste in Black communities and on our planet. Tanita Gray, CEO of Shoe Waste LLC, and BSI team members had the privilege of participating in significant events in Atlanta to raise awareness.
We kicked off education at the 12th Annual Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival. Additionally, we showcased our 3-D interactive shoe waste display and mechanical deconstruction demo at both Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week and at the 15th Annual Original Collard Greens Cultural Festival this fall. For those who missed our demos, we also held a virtual presentation to educate our community at this year’s Black Sustainability Summit and promote our Spring 2025 shoe deconstruction training program in Atlanta. In order to achieve Black sustainability, our organization believes we must build the Black & Green workforce and supply chain. The shoe deconstruction training program will teach transferrable skills and provide a pathway to green jobs in the burgeoning salvage economy.
From California to Georgia to Kenya
In pursuit of our shared goals, Shoe Waste LLC is also taking steps to open a shoe recycling and recovery center as a natural trajectory for this green job pipeline being created through the training program. The vision is to address shoe waste in the U.S. and create a model that benefits the global Black diaspora. This brings us to Kenya—where Shoe Waste, LLC invited BSI to embark on a joint venture exploration trip. Yeamah Brewer, BSI's Director of Operations and Tanita Gray, Shoe Waste's CEO and her son, Aaron Little Paw Gray, Shoe Waste's Brand Manager traveled from the U.S. to Kenya October 2024.
Why Kenya?
For centuries, Kenya has been a strategic logistical location in the "Horn of Africa”. It is also, unfortunately, a perfect location for second hand fashion waste and waste from manufacturing. Tanita shared, “...for Shoe Waste LLC to be present in Kenya, it means unlimited opportunities to offer its recycling services to the footwear industry within East Africa”. Black Sustainability, Inc.'s Executive Director, Raina Turner-Greenlea, commented, "...this venture is an excellent opportunity to address waste and support entrepreneurship/green jobs for our network in both East and West Africa. We are honored to explore the local partnerships and opportunities available"! As we planned our trip, we met with our partner on the ground, Clean Up Kenya, to ensure we had a fruitful experience.
Meeting the Team Behind Clean Up Kenya
Our gracious host was Clean Up Kenya (CUKE), an organization that has been a leader in waste management advocacy in the region. Their team, led by Betterman Musasia, offered valuable insights into local environmental challenges and the opportunities for collaboration in tackling waste management issues. CUKE's dedication to sustainability, demonstrated through their work on the ground and track record, along with the number of introductions they made for us during our week-long trip, gave us an unique perspective that will be pivotal in shaping our future initiatives in Kenya.
Bata Kenya Factory Tour & Manufacturer Shoe Waste Educational Presentation
One of the key highlights of the trip was a visit to the Bata Kenya factory, one of the country’s leading footwear manufacturers. This European-based manufacturer is known for poor waste management practices and dumping in Kenyan communities.
After touring the various departments and processing sites of the factory, Shoe Waste offered a high-level management presentation on the shoe deconstruction training program and how it can be tailored based on Bata’s production and post-production shoe waste. We also discussed how this program can empower the local community's understanding of sustainable practices.
Our visit was coordinated by key staff from Bata's sustainability team, so it was gratifying to get buy-in for the program from managers across various departments.
Note: In 2018 EU countries were required to recycle at least 55% of their municipal waste by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035. Other approved measures include a 10% cap on landfill by 2035, mandatory separate collection of biowaste and stricter schemes to make producers pay for the collection of key recyclables. In 2024, EU also adopted an aggressive Right to Repair Directive which is driving compliance action by manufacturers.
Engaging with Government Officials at NEMA and KenInvest
Understanding the regulatory landscape and building strong relationships with governmental bodies is crucial for the success of this project. We had the opportunity to meet with officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and KenInvest. These conversations centered around policy support for waste management, sustainable business practices, and investment in green enterprises. The positive reception and expressed willingness of these agencies to support initiatives like ours was an encouraging sign.
Exploring Facilities for the Future of the Project
As part of laying the groundwork for the Kenya-based program and exploring the steps to open a recycling & recovery center, we visited potential sites for the planned facility in Nairobi and Machakos County. These areas were chosen not only for their strategic locales, but also for the potential to customize the space for the program’s specific needs. We also considered the special economic zones we learned about from KenInvest. During the site visits, we gained invaluable insights about the local infrastructure, requirements, and the overall potential for site development. This experience gave us a more clear sense of the process to create a sustainable, scalable operation that can serve both as a training hub and a recycling center.
Closing out our Trip as Special Guests at the Fair Fashion Festival Nairobi
As the final activity of our trip, we had the honor of being CUKE’s special guests at an event they co-sponsored called Fair Fashion Festival Nairobi, a premier event to promote sustainable fashion and the circular economy in the region. The festival featured an upcycling workshop, a clothing swap, local designer showcases, a batik dyeing demonstration, and a panel discussion on the future of sustainable fashion in Kenya. It was inspiring to see so many passionate voices coming together to discuss the future of fashion in Africa—particularly in how the industry can embrace more sustainable and regenerative practices. It was truly a pleasure to meet local advocates Sisters in Climate, Africa Collect Textiles, and others in the space. The event also provided an excellent platform to introduce our organizations and project plans in Kenya, as we were given the chance to speak directly to the audience and be interviewed by NCBETHEBEST1 TV (check out clips on YouTube and Instagram).
Trip Reflections & What’s Next
"Our Kenya exploration trip was an enriching experience that deepened our understanding of the global waste crisis and the incredible potential for sustainable solutions throughout the African diaspora!", said Yeamah Brewer, BSI's Director of Operations, "...for BSI, the trip was also a stepping stone in realizing our broader vision for establishing multiple BSN regional hubs, one of which will be in East Africa".
As we continue to lay the groundwork for this global shoe deconstruction training program and the development of a specialized shoe recycling and recovery center, which will start in the U.S., we invite you to learn more!
Stay tuned by following us on social media and subscribing to our e-newsletter below for our latest news and updates on this project!
Opmerkingen