Cleaning up plastic pollution on East Africa’s coast

We’re combatting plastic pollution in the ocean to protect marine life and helping communities repurpose these materials. 

Problem 

Our oceans are grappling with the ever-increasing problem of plastic pollution resulting from rising consumption and soaring demand for plastics in packaging. At the same time, weak waste management infrastructure in developing countries exacerbates pollution, leading to plastic leakage into the environment. 

Many African countries are forced to resort to dumping and burning plastics, threatening marine biodiversity, community livelihoods, and human health. This further impedes the ocean’s ability to provide valuable ecosystem goods and services, from global climate regulation and food security to income through sustainable tourism.  

In Africa, plastic waste is spiralling out of control. Experts predict that 116 million tonnes of waste will be produced annually by 2060, more than six times the current figure of 18 tonnes per year. In other words, the amount of plastic produced will equal the weight of more than 773,000 blue whales.  

If the trend continues unabated, marine megafauna like whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and dugongs will soon be in grave danger. These species are the unsung heroes of climate action, responsible for sequestering carbon from the atmosphere into the ocean.  

Solution

IFAW is joining forces with The Flipflopi Project in Kenya to combat plastic pollution, work that protects marine animals, supports community livelihoods, and safeguard human health. The Flipflopi Project has a clear mission: to end single–use plastics and ensure that all plastics are part of a circular economy.   

To create economic opportunities for local communities using waste plastic, The Flipflopi Project is championing the recycling and reusing of plastics to make traditional Swahili-style furniture and sailing dhows. Beyond supporting economic growth, this initiative also preserves the art of traditional boat building, which is slowly disappearing as modern technology replaces human labour in the manufacturing process.  

Through this partnership, IFAW will engage and educate communities, including people who rely on fishing for their livelihoods and food security, on the dangers of marine plastic pollution and its impacts on their food security and economic incomes.  

Impact 

By reducing plastic pollution in East Africa’s marine ecosystems, we are helping animals, people, and the planet. 

Eliminating plastic waste improves the health of the ocean, making it a safer habitat for all marine species. It prevents plastic ingestion, thus stopping microplastics from travelling up the food chain and impacting the food that people eat.