RECYCLING – a CATAL1.5°T accelerator success story from West Africa
In West Africa, the CATAL1.5°T Initiative is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with EIT Climate-KIC and Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P). The CATAL1.5°T Initiative is funded by the international Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the German Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ).
A journey from the dump to sustainable development
Bekounim Tchomela N'yabé is not your typical entrepreneur. "I chose the dump over an office because I saw an opportunity to create real change," he says. After finishing university, he was driven by a passion for waste recovery. Today, as the Founder and Managing Director of RECYCLING, he is transforming Togo's waste landscape. The company, established in 2016, is dedicated to the collection and transformation of plastic waste into valuable resources. Bekounim's vision is clear: give new life to waste, create jobs, and build climate resilience across Sub-Saharan Africa.
RECYCLING's three-phase approach
RECYCLING operates in phases to tackle waste management effectively: collecting and marketing waste, transforming plastic waste into pellets, and ultimately producing biodegradable plastic products. "Our approach is about creating a sustainable cycle for waste," Bekounim explains. "Each phase builds on the previous one to maximise impact." This structured approach has enabled the Togolese company to grow sustainably, with support from partners like UNDP. Through solutions like its "Zero Waste" mobile app and smart garbage cans, RECYCLING has digitized waste collection. "We have mastered collection strategies with our purchasing centres and our digital platform. And that was just the first step, in winning the challenge of transforming plastic waste into recyclable material," summarises Bekounim.
CATAL1.5°T Initiative: accelerating impact
Bekounim applied to the CATAL1.5°T Initiative to strengthen RECYCLING's climate impact. "The CATAL1.5°T Initiative offered exactly what we needed – rigour, focus, and a commitment to climate resilience," says Bekounim. The Initiative's attention to the climate-resilient nature of solutions and business models, as well as valuable training made it stand out from other accelerators. The Initiative has helped RECYCLING refine its growth strategy, with a focus on sustainability, data-driven decision-making, and gender inclusivity.
Highlights and learnings
For Bekounim, a key highlight of the CATAL1.5°T Initiative has been aligning RECYCLING's operations with the climate goals of the programme. "This alignment has truly transformed how we view our impact," Bekounim shares. Through the accelerator, RECYCLING aims to learn to generate a climate hypothesis, to collect and analyse data, and to assess how its activities affect different stakeholders and the wider community. Particularly when it comes to creating a sustainable cycle for waste, CATAL1.5°T offers practical guidance on how to conduct a life cycle analysis and tools for life cycle inventories. These insights will enable the company to further refine its practices and to develop a climate hypothesis that reflects reality.
In addition to improving more technical issues of operations and impact, RECYCLING also wants to work on structural aspects with the help of our programme. This includes improving the organisation of the company and taking the gender criterion into account in its activities.
Driving gender inclusivity
Gender inclusivity is central to RECYCLING's mission. Bekounim believes that diverse teams foster creativity and better performance, which is crucial for the company's success. Diversity brings together different perspectives, enabling the team to find more effective solutions to the challenges facing the recycling industry. Women also play a key role in the company's sorting operations, and RECYCLING actively promotes gender equity, despite the challenge of gender stereotypes.
Promoting gender equality contributes to a fair and equitable working environment, which strengthens the company's reputation, attracts diverse talent, and enhances innovation. Bekounim notes, "Equity and social justice are core values for us. By ensuring an inclusive environment, we improve our internal culture and also enhance our standing in the community."
Moreover, studies show that companies that promote gender diversity achieve better financial performance. By integrating gender equality into its operations, RECYCLING reinforces its commitment to corporate social responsibility, which is increasingly valued by consumers and partners.
Impact and reward
RECYCLING's work is transformative. Quite literally, because its solutions give waste a second life by transforming granules from plastic waste into biodegradable plastic objects, but also on an environmental and social level. By reducing plastic waste in landfills and oceans, the company directly contributes to environmental conservation and community development. Its initiatives raise public awareness about the importance of recycling, inspire sustainable practices, and generate local jobs. "The most rewarding aspect of our work is seeing the direct impact we make," says Bekounim. "We reduce plastic waste, help preserve the ecosystem, and raise public awareness about recycling. Additionally, we create jobs and support the local economy, which brings immense personal satisfaction. Together, these efforts go beyond waste treatment, creating positive change for both the planet and society."
Looking ahead
With the support of the CATAL1.5°T Initiative, RECYCLING is poised to expand its impact, from transforming plastic waste to raising more awareness to the problems plastic waste poses to Sub-Saharan Africa – and how they can be addressed by recycling solutions. The future holds exciting possibilities, and Bekounim is committed to continuing his mission of turning waste into opportunity, one pellet at a time.
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