SGA security has partnered with Africa Collection Textiles (ACT) to re-use guards’ uniforms into school bags.
This recycling process is to produce amongst other items, school bags which will be donated to school-going children from underprivileged backgrounds.
According to Country Manager SGA Kenya Lucas Ndolo the recycling initiative is aimed at reducing the backlog of post-consumer textile waste that usually ends up in landfills, causing harmful effects on the environment.
“The average usage of a garment is three years before disposal which leads to the generation of a huge amount of waste. At SGA Security, we endeavour to contribute to environmental protection through this initiative,” said Ndolo.
SGA Security Chief Executive and Chairman Julius Delahaije explained that integrating circularity in key sectors of the economy will result in the development of new businesses in redesigning, recycling and waste management which will, in turn, increase sustainable economic development and resilience.
“Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategic pillars will not only contribute to a circular economy but also promote health and safety, and improve the livelihoods of underserved communities,” said Julius Delahaije.
Delahaije appealed for multi-sectorial partnerships with government, private sector, and non-profit organizations to join the circular economy contribution, through textile collection for action and uptake.
ACT Kenya Founder and General Manager Alex Musembi said that the ACT business model is to collect and redistribute used clothing to provide underprivileged communities with decent outfits as well as to create sorted textile waste streams that are suitable for recycling.
“The current amount of textiles discarded by the public in Kenyan urban areas is estimated at 35 million kilograms yearly, of which 20 million kilograms is in Nairobi,” said Musembi.
Through the partnership, SGA Security, which employs over 19,000 personnel spread across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will collect used uniforms from security guards after which After Collect Textile, a Social Impact Enterprise that collects used textiles and footwear for reuse and recycling in Africa will install convenient drop off points at shopping centres, universities, schools, and religious institutions and offer a pick-up service.
