Made in Heaven: Changing the fate of waste in SIDS!

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Made in Heaven: Changing the fate of waste in SIDS!

Pamplemousses, MauritiusPamplemousses, Mauritius
Year Founded:
2008
Organization type: 
nonprofit/ngo/citizen sector
Project Stage:
Established
Budget: 
$50,000 - $100,000
Website:
http://epcoweb.org
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

"Made in Heaven": a creative approach that tackles the waste management problem faced by most SIDS. It is climate friendly, brings in foreign currency and provides employment to needy people while at the same time helping in reducing waste through reuse and recycle. It will soon become a franchise.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

there was a solution to reduce waste and poverty at the same time?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Like most SIDS,Mauritius faces a waste management problem.It produces 1000 tons per day which is approximately 1kg per head per day.70 to 80% of these wastes are organic,out of which more than 70% come from plant products. Despite efforts to encourage composting,land-filling remains the current practice.The only landfill in Mauritius has long since surpassed its capacity.Final destination of uncollected wastes has now become the marine ecosystem.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

MADE IN HEAVEN offers a solution to get rid of wastes whilst bringing in foreign currency & providing employment to poor people.The expanding tourist industry is producing more waste,items made from reused or recycled wastes that are sold to foreigners visiting the island, helps to send back this same waste across the globe thus tackling the waste management problem Mauritius & other SIDS are facing.Production of hand-made local souvenir items is climate friendly since it helps to decrease fossil fuel consumption and enables carbon sequestration.The action demonstrates significant cost benefits in materials,energy & transportation.It will decrease the importation of tourists items from other countries thus save in terms of foreign currency.
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

The action addresses issues of poverty alleviation, unemployment & job creation;it creates direct employment for 32 people & indirect employment for 350 people from needy backgrounds.The impact will be considerable economically.Also, it helps to reduce our landfill wastes by 500 Tons or more since the project consists of using solid wastes (collected at source or production line drop outs), transforming these into high quality tourist items which are placed for sale in all tourist shops throughout Mauritius.It demonstrates significant cost benefits in materials, energy & transportation.It will decrease the importation of tourists items from other countries which will save in terms of foreign currency and energy involved in transportation.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

In 2011, 414,543 Tons of wastes were land filled in Mauritius, figures show a net decrease of some 27,000 Tons in 2012. This initiative will further decrease the amount of land filled waste in the future.The objective of MADE IN HEAVEN is to sell ½ kg or more of these wastes to our 1 million visitors annually. If this objective is attained, 500 T of solid wastes will be exported, estimated at around MUR 1200 per kg (Euros 30.00). This will bring around Euros 15 million in term of direct foreign currency.The actual situation- most of our tourist souvenir shops are flooded with items imported from China, India, Indonesia and Madagascar. Mauritius will further save in terms of foreign currency if importation of these items is considerably decreased or eventually ceased. At the same time, this project creates employment for unskilled, uneducated women and youth from deprived backgrounds.
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

MADE IN HEAVEN-shop & workshop is located near SSR Botanic Garden-a world known garden,visited by 600 visitors daily.The same visitors often visit our workshop where artisanal items made from reused & recycled materials are handcrafted on the spot before their eyes.They can then purchase similar items on display at the attached shop.Thus, the initiative is self-sustainable as items sold generate income to run the general initiative.

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Solid waste management is a serious issues in all SIDS.The amount produced is too little & is not cost effective to be industrially treated or exported for recycling.Land filled location pose very serious issues & cause lots of social and environmental embarrassments.Govt has encouraged composting & some local companies are recycling plastic that are turned into garden items.But this initiative is a first & unique solution that addresses the waste management problem as it is eco-friendly, climate friendly & creates employment.It is self-sustainable & can be replicated in other SIDS as well.
Team

Founding Story

From the biography of late Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius,Hon.Duval,locally recognized as founder of Mauritian tourist industry,I read"tourists come here to spend money & enjoy the tropical warmth"However,"most of them go back without spending all the money they intended to spend during those holidays” I realized that apart from the classy hotels & plenty of sun, sand & sea, other things could have been offered to those tourists.When it comes to souvenirs, all items are imported from China, Indonesia, India & Madagascar.None are 'Made in Mauritius'.Inspired by Mark Twain's quote that 'Mauritius was made first then heaven was copied after Mauritius',I came up with the idea of creating MADE IN HEAVEN-a local brand for souvenirs made locally
About You
Organization:
Environmental Protection and Conservation Organisation
About You
First Name

Deepti

Last Name

Beeharry Panray

About Your Project
Organization Name

Environmental Protection and Conservation Organisation

Organization Country

, PA, Pamplemousses

Country where this project is creating social impact

, PA, Pamplemousses

How long has your organization been operating?

More than 5 years

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Your Solution
Founding Story: Share a story about the “Aha!” moment that led you to get started and/or to see the potential for this to succeed.

From the biography of late Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius,Hon.Duval,locally recognized as founder of Mauritian tourist industry,I read"tourists come here to spend money & enjoy the tropical warmth"However,"most of them go back without spending all the money they intended to spend during those holidays” I realized that apart from the classy hotels & plenty of sun, sand & sea, other things could have been offered to those tourists.When it comes to souvenirs, all items are imported from China, Indonesia, India & Madagascar.None are 'Made in Mauritius'.Inspired by Mark Twain's quote that 'Mauritius was made first then heaven was copied after Mauritius',I came up with the idea of creating MADE IN HEAVEN-a local brand for souvenirs made locally

Select Sector(s): To which of Unilever's categories of sustainability does your solution apply?

Waste, Supply Chain Micro-entrepreneurs.

Measurable Impact
Audience: Who have you identified as your customers/recipients and why? How will you get your solution to them or engage them in your initiative?

The action addresses issues of poverty alleviation, unemployment & job creation;it creates direct employment for 32 people&indirect employment for 350 people from needy backgrounds.The impact will be considerable economically.It helps to reduce our landfill wastes by 500 Tons or more since the project consists of using solid wastes (collected at source or production line drop outs), transforming these into high quality tourist items which are placed for sale in all tourist shops throughout Mauritius

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date and expected impact in the future?

In 2011, 414,543 Tons of wastes were land filled in Mauritius, figures show a net decrease of some 27,000 Tons in 2012. This initiative will further decrease the amount of land filled waste in the future.The objective of MADE IN HEAVEN is to sell ½ kg or more of these wastes to our 1 million visitors annually. If this objective is attained, 500 T of solid wastes will be exported, estimated at around MUR 1200 per kg (Euros 30.00). This will bring around Euros 15 million in term of direct foreign currency.The actual situation- most of our tourist souvenir shops are flooded with items imported from China, India, Indonesia and Madagascar. Mauritius will further save in terms of foreign currency if importation of these items is considerably decreased or eventually ceased. At the same time, this project creates employment for unskilled, uneducated women and youth from deprived backgrounds.

Growth, Finance & Leadership
Scaling the Solution: How do you intend to scale your activities over the next two years (e.g., reach new markets, diversify solutions, etc.)? What will make this possible?

We intend to increase rate of items offered&spread these in all existing outlets throughout the territory.Other objectives are:to compete with products made in China,etc &promote the national brand ‘Made in Moris’so as to slowly decrease importation of these items.Unexpected world crisis may decrease the number of visitors in the future.To remedy the situation,some items will be produced for the local market,such as corporate gifts&items inspired by international events such as the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.Special items made for internationally recognized sites such as the Appravasi Ghat & Le Morne Heritage Site,both of which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage.Items will be made & exported to other Indian Ocean Islands through the IOC.

Financial Sustainability: What is your business model to ensure financial sustainability?

MADE IN HEAVEN-shop & workshop is located near SSR Botanic Garden-a world known garden,visited by 600 visitors daily.The same visitors often visit our workshop where artisanal items made from reused & recycled materials are handcrafted on the spot before their eyes.They can then purchase similar items on display at the attached shop.Thus, the initiative is self-sustainable as items sold generate income to run the general initiative.

Experience: Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.

MADE IN HEAVEN team has successfully engaged local communities from deprived backgrounds in the running of four clustering workshops.These include a Pandanus waiving workshop at Grand Sable village-for fishers wives and families;Coconut workshop at Agalega for the isolated community living on the island;a textile recycling workshop at Petit Raffray village & a glass recycling workshop at Long Mountain Village to provide employment to the needy.