New plastic ban spells good tidings for hyacinth bag maker

The ban on plastic bags could not have come at a better time for Michael Otieno, an entrepreneur making eco-friendly bags using water hyacinth.

Six years ago, Mr Otieno, the director of Takawiri Enterprise, saw an opportunity for turning the stubborn weed into a source of income.

After training in 2011 at Kisumu Innovation Centre Kenya he was convinced to start small scale water hyacinth paper production with a capital of Sh100,000.

He uses water hyacinth and waste paper to make a variety of paper products such as gift bags, cards, books, envelops and folders.

“I started the enterprise as part of environmental solution to the weed on the lake. With the ban on plastic bags, demand for the biodegradable gift bags has increased,” says Mr Otieno.

He currently has orders for about 8,000 carrier bags monthly.

Initially the whole process of paper production, to making of paper products was done manually. But he recently acquired automated pulping machine courtesy of NETFUND or the National Environment Trust Fund. This is a state corporation under the Ministry of Environment.

“My plan is have the whole process automated. This will increase the volume of production, better quality and cut the cost of output,” says the 37-year-old entrepreneur.

With the automated pulping machine he can produce about 1,000 litres of a blend of water hyacinth and waste paper daily.

The water hyacinth is chopped into pieces and mixed with waste paper. Bleaching powder and calcium carbonate are added into the mixture before it is heated.

“The pulp is then mixed with wood glue and placed inside wooden troughs filled with water. The mixture is sieved to form soft wet paper on top of the wooden container,” explains Mr Otieno. The wet paper takes about four to six hours to dry depending on the thickness of the paper required.

Using a machine called celendering, the particles of the paper are pressed, making it fine, soft and easy to fold. In a day the enterprise makes at least 800 sheets of A1-size paper.

READ: How plastic bag firms can survive after crippling ban

With a team of five employees, the firm can produce at least 1,000 bags made of water hyacinth in a day. The bags cost between Sh75 to Sh150.

Mr Otieno plans to outsource professional folding firm in Nairobi for production of fine and firm finished carrier bags.

“The idea is still new and I’m doing more research on how to improve it. Perhaps I will apply wax or vanish to boost water resistance,” he says.

In a good month he makes Sh100,000 from the sale of water hyacinth paper products. He markets his goods through exhibitions in Nairobi, referrals from customers and private companies across the country.

Takawiri Enterprise sells the paper to Kisumu Innovation Centre Kenya (KICK), Jarida Craft and Ajira Tea, an American Firm based in Kisii that uses the paper to package tea. A single A1 sheet of paper goes for Sh80.

But Mr Otieno faces the challenges of raising capital to expand production as demand for eco-friendly bags go up.

“Most of the machines required to enhance output are not locally available. It will cost close to Sh10 million to get automated paper cutter and automatic paper- making machine,” he says.

He says he can produce 10,000 carrier bags a day with automated paper machines while the manual process makes 1,000 bags daily.