Creating a waste-free Namibia

Betterpack Manufacturing is an eco-business which specialises in recycling waste materials such as plastic bags and bottles into colourful and durable tiles and pavers, which - in turn - can be used to decorate residential homes and business premises. As the CEO, Eddy Firmino has a lot of responsibilities, so his day usually starts around 06:00.

He typically prepares for the tasks he must perform for himself and his team in advance. As a result, he meets with his staff to discuss the goals for the day and the coming week before starting his day. His employment is more hands-on than office-based, so he then goes into the field.

Firmino said we are all aware of the negative effects plastic pollution has on our environment, animal habitats, marine life, and society.

“In addition to being unhygienic, it also ruins natural landscapes and increases carbon emissions, which exacerbates climate change, to name a few effects.”

The company gathers pollution-causing plastic garbage and transforms it into tiles and pavers, and is working towards eliminating plastic waste that is plaguing the country.

Betterpack Manufacturing was founded late last year because they believe that protecting the environment is essential. “Many people and organisations talk about climate change and ‘saving’ the environment, but very few actually take action,” Firmino said.

At Betterpack, they believe it is high time Namibia moves towards a green economy and they want to pride themselves as pioneers in that regard.

Not only do they plan to clean communities and towns of waste, but they also think they can give individual waste collectors job opportunities and, most significantly, aid society in cultivating responsible habits of being aware to clean up the environment and live in a healthy atmosphere.

Firmino added that finding out he was one of the Sanlam Bridge programme winners was as overwhelming as his entrepreneurial journey.

“It is not easy, especially for a start-up to secure funding in the early stages. Therefore, the support from Sanlam and Start-Up Namibia will really help us significantly.”

As his area of expertise in business, Firmino has experience in marketing and sales. He is currently midway through his honours degree in business administration at the University of Namibia. He uses the knowledge he has gained in his business.

Betterpack Manufacturing is the first company to transform waste into tiles and pavers, according to records, but what makes their product unique is that it comes in a range of colors.

The cherry on top is that their customers can have it all for a very low price, saving them money on their building expenses in addition to the fact that their product is environmentally friendly and recyclable.

Betterpack has managed to form partnerships with local government, towns, and stores for the management of plastic waste, and they are halfway through registering their business with the necessary authorities.

Their difficulties lie in trying to obtain capital, such as a loan, in order to support their activities because when they completely launch or go commercial, they will need huge machinery.

In future, they plan to expand their operations to many regions and go national. “Our biggest goal is to get rid of at least 50% of all plastic waste in Namibia by 2030,” Firmino said. They have received mentorship, training and other networking opportunities that may potentially open more doors for their business, which will make them more sustainable and successful as a start-up, he added.