Rethread Africa, an incredible African startup founded by students from the University of Nairobi, continue to stir up conversations as it upcycles sugarcane waste into high-performance, bio-based materials that offer sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibres. Their groundbreaking solution is disrupting the textile industry while advancing sustainability.
The innovative team – Charles Oyamo, Noreen Mwancha, and Vincent Momanyi – boasts a biodegradable textile fabric made from agricultural waste, particularly sugarcane. The resulting bio-based polyester may be an effective substitute for traditional polyester as it requires fewer resources to make and can serve to enrich the land at the end of its lifespan.
Rethread Africa works with small-holder farmers to source agricultural waste, also giving those farmers some extra income. The startup breaks down the waste into its constituent fibres, which are spun into yarn and eventually woven to create an eco-conscious biodegradable textile fabric that is comfortable, durable, and stylish.
The company has set an ambitious goal of replacing 15% of polyester over the next decade.
- Numeris MĂ©dia is officially accredited media to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games