On Wednesday 15th July 2020, we hosted the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) for a virtual panel discussion with over 50 online content creators.
The event was livestreamed via the BAKE’s Facebook and YouTube accounts, Emceed by influencer Samuel Mbugua.
The panelists of the event were:
1. MS Phyllis Wakiaga – KAM CEO
2. Dr Ayub Macharia- Director Environmental Education and Awareness, Ministry of Environment
3. Akshay Shah- MD, SilAfrica Group
4. Dr Julius Muia- Principal Secretary, National Treasury
The aim of the event was to have online content creators highlight the importance of having everyone advocating for a circular economy and sustainability. KAM sought to use the media platforms to raise awareness to help the consumers become conscious of the circular economy. This includes how they handle liquid waste plastics in their communities.
The event also sought to create a link with manufacturers that will deliver and expand the scope of energy efficiency and sustainability in Kenya.
A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources to improve their productivity. For instance, if companies employ reuse, sharing, and recycling, they will minimize the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions.
Moving towards a more circular economy could deliver benefits such as reducing pressure on the environment, improving the security of the supply of raw materials, stimulating innovation, boosting economic growth and creating jobs opportunities.
Already, one of the manufacturers SilAfrica group has adopted the green economy initiative. The company MD, Akshay shah during the event emphasized that the company has invested $6million to generate eight times more in energy efficiency.
He says, “The way we’ve designed our operations, I see us even becoming carbon negative as we take in more waste to recycle than we generate. We even take in plastics then develop materials that are then used in the supply chain”
According to the KAM CEO, MS Phyllis Wakiaga, “for robust green growth to take hold the upcoming manufacturers have to be supported in many ways by the Govt and it is great that we already doing more to support them through manufacturing SME hub”
“A lot of Green Growth also has to do with innovation and partnerships. When the consumer is conscious, it goes then back to the manufacturers who develop and design the various products and items.
Dr Ayub Macharia from the Ministry of Environment also confirmed that the government is open to support those companies engaged in Green Economy with innovative projects provided they are supported by relevant stats and data.
The audience also had a chance to ask questions to their satisfaction, which the panel was more than willing to share their expert knowledge on the topics asked. Please follow the conversation online using the hashtag #MovingToBetter or watch the conversation below