China-Africa Project Matchmaking Report: Plastic Recycling for Environment & Employment in Uganda

Written by: Shichen Steven Lin

Focus Entrepreneur & Uganda Company: Emmanuel Lomoro, founder of Generous Designs Africa

Chinese Company: Shandong ECO Technology Co., Ltd

Executive Summary

This report aims to explore the feasibility of a China-Africa cooperation project regarding plastic recycling and technology, as well as developing a realistic approach to incorporating both business together for a sustainable and profitable future. The target companies include Generous Designs Africa (GDA), founded by Emmanuel Lomoro and Shandong ECO Tech.

Based in Uganda’s Bidibidi refugee camp, GDA is a social enterprise focused on recycling plastic waste into eco-friendly products. Their mission is to recycle plastic waste into eco-friendly products to create jobs for refugees and empower women. This aligns with the core purpose of Shandong ECO Tech, and the strategic partnership utilizes said Chinese company’s expertise in plastic recycling equipment, clean production, and high-value recycled material development to create not only jobs for the refugee camp in Uganda, but also provide construction materials critical to infrastructure improvement.

Introduction

Generous Designs Africa (GDA) is a social enterprise based in Uganda’s Bidibidi refugee camp focused on recycling plastic waste into environmentally friendly products like rulers, bags, and construction materials. This company offers jobs for youth, widows, and single mothers. To this date, it has collected 890 kg of plastic waste, sold 90,000 products, and employed 135 people, directly bolstering the community livelihood and education of children.

Shandong ECO Technology is a leading Chinese firm that specializes in environmental technology, in which their plastic waste recycling equipment, clean production processes and technology to develop high quality recycled materials are most relevant for this cooperation.