This Rwandan entrepreneur turns discarded tires into fashionable footwear

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🗞️ Driving the news: Rwandan entrepreneur Kevine Kagirimpundu is turning discarded tires into eco-friendly footwear through her company, Uzuri K&Y
• Launched in 2013 with co-founder Ysolde Shimwe, the brand handcrafts sandals using old tires for soles
• The company aligns with Rwanda’s sustainability efforts, including bans on plastic bags and single-use plastics

🔭 The context: Rwanda discards over 5,000 tons of tires annually, posing environmental hazards
• Uzuri K&Y repurposes these tires into stylish sandals, selling over 4,500 pairs per month in Rwanda and Kenya
• The initiative also combats unemployment by training young people in craftsmanship and entrepreneurship

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By upcycling waste rubber, Uzuri K&Y reduces landfill pollution and extends the lifecycle of non-biodegradable materials
• To date, the company has removed 10 metric tons of rubber from landfills
• Sustainable fashion initiatives like this offer solutions to global waste challenges while promoting circular economies

⏭️ What's next: Uzuri K&Y plans to expand its production capacity and market reach while continuing to train young artisans
• The company aims to strengthen its social impact, particularly in providing employment opportunities for women
• With growing global interest in sustainable fashion, the brand could serve as a model for other eco-conscious businesses

💬 One quote: “It’s the whole collective of women working together to create something big, something important.” – Kevine Kagirimpundu, CEO of Uzuri K&Y

📈 One stat: 1,500 young people, 70% of them women, have received training through Uzuri K&Y’s skills program

See here sustainability performance of companies like Patagonia, North Face and Ralph Lauren

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