When Lorna Rutto left her position as banker in 2009, her entourage thought she was crazy. Though she was well paid, she felt at the wrong place. She quit her comfortable office, to join landfills of Nairobi to collect plastic waste which she recycled in building materials. In ten years, her company, Ecopost, has recycled millions of tonnes of waste in Kenya and contributed to fight deforestation in the country.
Lorna Rutto is an inspiring Kenyan entrepreneur who is making a difference in her country by turning waste into wealth. She was born in kenya in 1984. She spent all her childhood and adolescence in a slum of the country where pollution, problems with waste management, wastewater, the smell of sewers were common. Born and raised in rural Kenya, Lorna witnessed first-hand the negative impact of waste on the environment and the community. She saw how plastic waste was littering the streets, clogging up waterways, and harming wildlife. She also saw how the lack of waste management systems was creating health problems for people living in impoverished areas.
Determined to make a change, Lorna Rutto set out to find a solution to the waste problem. She realized that the plastic waste could be transformed into a valuable resource if it was recycled and turned into new products. In 2009, she founded her company, EcoPost, with the goal of creating a sustainable business that would not only tackle the waste problem but also provide employment opportunities for the local community.
EcoPost’s main product is plastic lumber, which is made from recycled plastic waste. The plastic lumber is used as a substitute for wood in construction and furniture making. It is strong, durable, and resistant to water and termites, making it an ideal material for outdoor use. EcoPost has also developed other products, such as fence posts, paving tiles, and flowerpots, all made from recycled plastic waste.
Lorna’s business has grown rapidly over the years, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her work. In 2011, she was named one of the Top 40 Women Under 40 in Kenya by Business Daily Africa. In 2013, she was named the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year for Africa, and in 2014, she was awarded the United Nations Person of the Year for Kenya.
But Lorna’s journey to success has not been without its challenges. She faced resistance from some members of her community who did not understand the concept of recycling or the value of plastic waste. She also faced financial difficulties in the early stages of her business, as she struggled to secure funding and investment.
Despite these challenges, Lorna persisted, driven by her passion for the environment and her desire to create a better future for her community. Today, EcoPost has created over 300 jobs in Kenya, and the company has recycled over 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste, saving over 250 acres of forest in the process.
Lorna Rutto’s story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and innovation in solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. She has shown that with determination, creativity, and hard work, it is possible to turn waste into gold and make a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment.
In a world where waste is a growing problem, Lorna Rutto and EcoPost are leading the way in finding sustainable solutions. Their work serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs, activists, and citizens around the world who are committed to creating a cleaner, greener future for all.