In Rwanda, where over 5,000 tons of tires are discarded annually, entrepreneur Kevine Kagirimpundu is turning waste into opportunity. Her eco-friendly shoe brand, Uzuri K&Y, launched in 2013 with friend Ysolde Shimwe, upcycles discarded tires into fashionable sandals, addressing environmental concerns and creating jobs in a country with a 13% unemployment rate. With a mission to align with Rwanda’s progressive plastic bans, Uzuri K&Y has removed 10 metric tons of rubber from landfills, producing over 4,500 pairs of handcrafted sandals monthly at its Kigali facility.
Kagirimpundu, a creative design graduate from the University of Rwanda, founded Uzuri K&Y—named after the Swahili word for beauty and goodness—to tackle limited job prospects. Inspired by Rwanda’s 2008 ban on plastic bags and 2019 prohibition of single-use plastics, she saw tire recycling as a way to contribute to sustainability. “We wanted to be part of the problem-solving process,” she told CNN, emphasizing the brand’s role in reducing waste while fostering economic growth.
The company sources tires from local landfills, transforming them into durable soles for men’s, women’s, and children’s sandals sold online and in stores across Rwanda and Nairobi, Kenya. Beyond environmental impact, Uzuri K&Y prioritizes social change, particularly for women, who face a 14.5% unemployment rate. Kagirimpundu established a training program to teach shoemaking, empowering 1,500 young people—70% women—to become artisans and entrepreneurs. “It’s priceless to give a woman a steady income,” she said, highlighting the collective power of women driving the business.
Globally, one billion tires reach the end of their life each year, often piling up in landfills and posing health and environmental risks, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. In Rwanda, Uzuri K&Y’s innovative approach sets a model for sustainable entrepreneurship. Social media posts on X praise the initiative, with users noting, “From trash to treasure, Rwanda’s leading the way!” Despite early challenges like a lack of skilled labor, Kagirimpundu’s vision has turned Uzuri K&Y into a beacon of environmental and social progress.
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