Environmental Professionals Connection

CIRCULAR REVOLUTION – BLACK GOLD

Cleannovate

JUNE 14, 2024

I offloaded the sack in my storeroom. Now I had fuel that could last me for weeks. You see, charcoal is our most common fuel in Africa. And as an ardent African, I would not disappoint. The charcoal sack weighed probably slightly over sixty kilos.

CIRCULAR REVOLUTION: THE URBAN METALLIC MINE

Cleannovate

JUNE 12, 2024

‘We buy used motherboards’, the gentleman stated. At that point, I tapped the shoulder of one of my students as I hinted to him about this business opportunity. As a lecturer, I occasionally expose my students to industry and this was such a time.

CIRCULAR REVOLUTION – THE SOLAR ENERGY DILEMMA

Cleannovate

JUNE 9, 2024

I drove the nails through the roof, descended from the ladder and entered my living room. I had been nailing some solar panels onto my roof. I checked the battery, inverter, charge controller and the multiplug connected to the lights and other electronics. I was satisfied.

CIRCULAR REVOLUTION – SIMPLICITY IS GOLDEN

Cleannovate

JUNE 5, 2024

I once stumbled upon a video of a guy making fun of a friend who had been eating rice and beans for nine days in a row. Well, probably he had been enjoying the best burgers or pizza or fine dining. So that made him quite surprised about the friend’s predicament.

CIRCULAR REVOLUTION: WASTE AS RAW MATERIALS

Cleannovate

JUNE 4, 2024

I’m just from teaching a class of environmental chemistry. So what I’ve done over the three hour class period is to share my presentation for about an hour then allow a group to present some work they’ve been researching on for about 3 or 4 weeks.

Waste

Self-care is not merely important today—it is essential.

Cleannovate

MAY 26, 2024

Consider the individuals enduring the pressures of life, navigating through challenges and adversities. Envision men and women striving to secure employment… Struggling to make ends meet… Facing difficulties in their marriages… Juggling demanding work responsibilities… Endeavoring to meet others’ expectations… Struggles upon struggles.

Some Bridges are Meant to be Burnt: A Guide to Letting Go of Toxicity

Cleannovate

MAY 26, 2024

Picture this: you’re standing at the edge of a rickety, old bridge. The planks are rotting, the ropes are frayed, and every step you take sends a shiver up your spine. Welcome to the bridge of toxic relationships and addictive habits. It’s a marvel that you’ve made it this far without tumbling into the abyss.

MAKE SEED OILS. HERE’S WHY…

Cleannovate

MAY 19, 2024

I remember when the prices of edible oils skyrocketed in an instant in my nation, Kenya. Consumers were out of options since the big players in this sector have such an iron grip on the market. Well, the government tried to intervene and to some extent, prices seemed to stabilise.

Government

CIRCULAR ECONOMY- REIMAGINING FAT IN A HEALTHY WAY

Cleannovate

MAY 18, 2024

A quick visit to your local butchery reveals a very unique type of waste – animal fat Most of it is possibly sold to pet owners or thrown away altogether. But what if this fat forms a raw material for manufacturing of something we use several times in a day?

Waste

The Entrepreneurship School

Cleannovate

MAY 17, 2024

I’ve always toyed with entrepreneurship ideas. I’ve tried some out with a measure of success (and equal measure of failure) while others have just lingered in my mind. I often note down ideas that cross my mind on my phone, notepad app… and it’s been helpful.

Powering the Future: How Batteries Enable the Evolution of AI

Cleannovate

APRIL 2, 2024

Batteries, often overlooked in discussions about AI, play a pivotal role in powering the devices that are shaping our future. From smartphones to autonomous vehicles, the seamless integration of AI relies heavily on advancements in battery development.

Making a case for business in environmental monitoring

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

In our world, taking care of the environment is super important because things have become really urgent. Businesses can actually make money while also helping the planet. Imagine a big city with tall buildings – it looks cool, but there’s a problem.

Cooling

Breathing Fresh: A Persuasive Plea for Air Pollution Remediation

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

Introduction:Take a deep breath – if you can. In the midst of our bustling urban jungles, indoor sanctuaries, and industrial landscapes, the air we breathe is far from pristine.

Air Pollution

Plastic Recycling: Navigating the Labyrinth of Pros and Cons

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 11, 2024

In the relentless pursuit of environmental sustainability, the realm of plastic recycling emerges as a battleground, filled with both promise and peril. Hard-to-recycle plastics hold the potential for transformation into secondary products, a commendable feat in the war against plastic pollution.

Recycling

“Wastewater Wonders: Turning Muck into Gold”

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 11, 2024

In a world drowning in its own refuse, where the phrase “flush it down the drain” echoes louder than a pop star’s latest hit, there emerges a beacon of hope – the magical realm of wastewater recycling.

Recycling

Recycling Waste

E-waste Alchemy: Turning Old Gadgets into a Gold Mine

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Hey there, tech enthusiasts and eco-warriors! Ever wondered what makes your phone, laptop, or tablet the dazzling piece of wizardry it is? Well, it’s not just the sleek design or the magic touch, but a dash of something truly extraordinary—rare earth metals. Now, before you start picturing wizards waving wands, let’s get down to earth.

Waste

Revitalizing Agriculture: The Crucial Role of Recycling Phosphorus

Cleannovate

FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Introduction: Phosphorus, an essential element for plant growth, is at the heart of a growing concern that threatens the sustainability of global agriculture. With depleting phosphorus resources, coupled with losses from farms and waste discharge, the world is facing a looming crisis that could impact food security and environmental health.

Recycling

Recycling Waste

When MICRO meets PLASTICS

Cleannovate

JANUARY 28, 2024

The ban on single use plastic paper bags in Kenya was a good move. But was it enough to tackle the plastic menace? Certainly not. We still use non-recyclable plastics everyday of our lives. NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTICS Non-recyclable plastics cannot be recycled easily. Infact majority can’t be recycled at all.

Recycling

CHEMICAL RECYCLING – THE COSTS AND THE BENEFITS

Cleannovate

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

There is a surge in the sustainability discussion. And among the key pet subjects, circularity features prominently. What’s circularity? It is a short form for the circular economy. It’s summarised by three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Recycling

WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, HEALTHCARE – A CHEMISTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES

Cleannovate

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

If you’re a scientist seeking out opportunities for innovation, then this article is for you. If you’re not a scientist but still seeking for opportunities, then this article is a must for you. As a chemical practitioner and a teacher, I once struggled to convince my students to see business sense in chemistry.

THE PLASTIC ELEVATOR PITCH – STYROFOAM

Cleannovate

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

You board an elevator destined for the seventh floor and a business mogul follows right after you. Thoughts cross your mind… You’ve always desired to get hold of him but he’s hard to get. Now you have a fraction of time just to get a conversation with him.

CHAOS & OPPORTUNITY

Cleannovate

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

What do you do in the midst of chaos? Perhaps a little inspiration from nature… Ants are celebrated insects because they know how to bring order to disorder. They have a clear strategy and command structure that enables to achieve much. Picture the anthill. Some are humongous and towering.

WASTE -> UPCYCLING -> PROFITS

Cleannovate

JULY 9, 2023

Let me start with a disclaimer. This newsletter is all about sharing innovative ideas on circular businesses. Some of these ideas might just be concepts waiting for someone to put their mind and soul into them to see them through. But this particular one is an idea that excites me.

Upcycling

Upcycling Waste

AGROWASTE AND FIBRE – BACKYARD INDUSTRY

Cleannovate

JUNE 21, 2023

Pineapple crowns… Water hyacinth… Sugarcane peels… All these agrowastes have one thing in common… They’re rich in fibre – cellulose to be precise. But how’s fibre useful? It’s good for packaging, kitchenware, pads and making paper. Ever heard of ‘kiondos’? They are basket bags indigenous to Kenyans.

11 PRACTICAL AGROWASTE UPCYCLING OPPORTUNITIES

Cleannovate

JUNE 20, 2023

What better way to grow personal, communal and national wealth than converting waste into valuable products. And that’s what this article is about. How can we practically take what’s rejected and convert it into what’s really needed? That’s the gyst of circular economy – and more precisely waste valorization.

Upcycling

Upcycling Waste

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND THE BUSINESS OF WATER

Cleannovate

JUNE 14, 2023

I once stumbled on an article explaining why it’s not possible for Kenya to explore over 200 billion cubic metres of groundwater. This water has the capability of supplying the nation with clean water for 70 years non-stop. Sounds too good to be true.

DOWNCYCLE, RECYCLE, UPCYCLE

Cleannovate

JUNE 8, 2023

Picture an elegant plastic paper packaging. After disposal, what happens to it? Three options might arise… First, it could be reformed into cheap straws… Secondly, it could be reused to make another paper bag… Lastly, it could be reformed into a casing for a computer.

Upcycling

Upcycling Recycling

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TOY CARS

Cleannovate

MAY 20, 2023

My son loves riding kids battery cars. So on this day, I had to fulfill the promise I had made two days before I decided to take him for a ride. He didn’t waste time pouncing on his car of choice. But within a short time, we were disappointed.

Waste

THINK SME MANUFACTURING. THINK MATERIAL SCIENCE

Cleannovate

MAY 19, 2023

I sat still in the lab waiting for the synthesis I was working on to come through. My tools of trade were a basic… A burette (remember from high school titration experiments?)… Some conical flasks, beakers etc – I won’t bore you with chemistry. What was my mission here?

SOMETIMES THE ‘MESSIEST’ OPTION IS THE BEST OPTION

Cleannovate

APRIL 24, 2023

Banking…Agriculture…Chemistry These three words seem to summarise my professional life so far. This is to say that my career path has been anything but straight – as you can see from the diversity in the three words. This journey has been punctuated by eventualities that deserve to be narrated in form of a story.