Gerald Ndashimye (Eco Ways)

Gerald with an upcycled plastic fencing pole.

Gerald Ndashimye is the founder and CEO of Eco Ways in Uganda, a business that upcycles plastic waste into durable furniture and fencing poles.

Reducing waste in Uganda

Gerald was inspired to launch the social enterprise because he was “tired of seeing plastics that were lying and flying around, especially shopping bags and beverage bottles.”

Eco Ways takes local waste and turns it into unique, functional furnishings—then sells it across the country in both urban and rural areas. Tending to have a greater awareness and passion for upcycling, Eco Ways’ primary consumer consists of younger communities.

Eco ways in the because accelerator

This upcycled plastic picnic table is created by Eco Ways.

In the Because Accelerator, Gerald hopes to receive training and mentorship specifically around core business principles. “I am more of a hands-on founder and this will help me learn and share ideas.”

Gerald wants to see Eco Ways expand to become a “full-fledged company with maximum production capacity that satisfies the local market and export market.”

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.