Ghana's discarded coconut shells: An alternative to plastic?

DW (English)

Discarded coconut shells are getting new life in Ghana — but not as souvenir crafts. One company is turning them into reusable household utensils and cups, and a viable alternative to environmentally damaging plastic.

Transcript

00:00Coconut, an edible fruit, serves as a nutritious and hydrating drink with many health benefits for the body.

00:11But the shell waste can be a nuisance, littering the environment and dam sites.

00:17Here at this small factory, these young people are transforming them into other reusable items.

00:24We transform coconut shells that have been discarded and many seers waste into beautiful handmade crafts.

00:32So some of the crafts that we have are the caps, the containers, the bowls, we even have kitchen wares, we even have eco-friendly toys for kids.

00:41The team at Akoshi Craft produces these household items with a major purpose to offer viable and affordable alternatives to plastics.

00:52What will make Akoshi very happy is to see people stop the use of plastics, which is very harmful to the environment,

00:59so that they seek for our alternative by using the coconut shells in the home and everywhere.

01:06We believe that everyone should be able to access sustainable choices.

01:10Ghana has a waste management crisis. It is unable to process most of the waste generated.

01:17Environmental activists believe green businesses offer viable solutions to addressing their problems with their innovative ideas.

01:26I feel that a lot of knowledge actually needs to be out there for consumers to know that you have options.

01:35And in some instances, not all, it may cost a little bit more.

01:39And then we give the encouragement to the green businesses to actually grow.

01:44We give the incentive to other green businesses to actually start.

01:50Because if they don't have that incentive, we're going to just be having brown businesses, brown businesses.

01:56We deplete the earth, deplete the environment. The government has less and less money to respond to it.

02:02And then, you know, the problem just gets exacerbated.

02:06The team at Akoshi is playing its part in providing solutions.

02:10They are determined to scale up, so they are able to reach every home with their solutions.

02:20Don't waste anybody.

02:34If any of the important questions may come across, like, weorahala.

02:36Let me give up, we'll buy the incentive.

02:39Let's support youチers,ency my boss.

02:42Do our best.

02:45Don't waste that time.

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