Innovate
we are “closing the loop” on waste plastics through an innovative community-centred approach that manufactures quality plastic products and boats rooted in indigenous heritage
The First-of-its-kind material recovery and recycling centre in Lamu, Kenya
Using waste plastics and heritage boat building to tackle plastic pollution
In Lamu, Kenya, waste management is next to non-existent while populations rise and the ocean continuously washes more plastics onto its shores. Now though, we’re working to do something about it.
The world’s first 100% recycled plastic sailing ‘dhow’
We built the world’s first traditional sailing dhow from recycled plastic, Flipflopi Ndogo, as a prototype and proof of concept. Now we have started the process of building a 23m sailing dhow, Flipflopi Kubwa, to be able to spread the message and movement on a global scale.
This has never been done before. So we have recyclers, designers and engineers involved volunteering their time and skills to research and develop the materials and processes to make this happen.
Now you can build your own Flipflopi…
Boat Build Toolkit
We made a full documentation of building the first Flipflopi dhow. Learn the basics about the recycling process, how the different parts were made and how the boat was built!
Encouraging community-led waste management
creating locally-grown circular economies
Our centre in Lamu has proven that it is possible to bring remote and peri-urban communities into the circular economy, giving plastic a second life and bringing wealth to communities.
It is only possible working together with the local community. So far we have employed 30 full-time staff and provide regular income for a widespread collection network, who receive cash-for-collections, promoting a ‘waste-is-wealth’ mindset.
We hope one day to be able to replicate the Lamu approach in other peri-urban communities across East Africa. We are working currently with grassroots organisations in Kampala, Uganda and Mwanza, Tanzania who are each working to create more sustainable waste management in their communities.
Innovate Achievements
Built world’s first sailing dhow made 100% from recycled plastic and covered in 30,000 discarded flip flops
In 2022, Flipflopi was awarded the FCDO’s SMEP Grant to tackle marine ecosystem health challenges by combining indigenous knowledge with modern innovation. This led to the creation of the first recycling and production facility in Lamu County with a capacity to process 12 tonnes of post consumer plastics monthly
Lamu centre now produces marketable products including traditional Lamu furniture, doors, hand carts, and plastic boats.
To date over 40 product lines and 3 different sailing boats have been built
Innovate Future
Continue R&D into heritage boatbuilding including building Flipflopi Kubwa, a 23 metre sailing dhow made 100% from recycled plastic and flipflops.
Scale up Lamu recycling centre as a centre of excellence that acts as a blueprint for the rest of the world to support broader waste management, bring vital and fair income to communities, and invest in recycling machinery and education centres.