Takazuri – Kwale Recycling Centre

Investing in Impact

P4G has awarded the partnership US $449,772 in grant funding. 

Takazuri produces Climatile™, a lightweight rooftop tile that can support the company’s thin solar panels and collect rainwater. 

The Kenyan solar market is growing rapidly and is one of the leading solar markets in the world. The country is also experiencing an increased housing demand, which makes Climatile™ well positioned to advance Kenya’s sustainable energy, waste management and housing priorities. 

Innovations in the tile design compared to other products on the market include: 

• An interlocking system that does not require skilled labor for installation and does not damage rooftops
• A lightweight tile incorporating thin solar panels that do not add substantially more weight to roofs and are more suitable for Kenyan houses since they do not compromise their structural stability
• Cool roof technology that enhances insulation and reduces energy costs
• Design that is safe for and facilitates the collection of rainwater
• Tile made from recycled plastics that can also be recycled at the end of its life

Takazuri’s business approach includes a mix of bespoke and large-scale manufacturing. The company will work with local plastic waste collection and manufacturing facilities in Kenya to develop smaller volume, bespoke products. It will contract with larger manufacturers who have the facilities for larger volume runs. 

Tazakuri has partnered with Kwale Recycling Centre (KRC) to scale this solution. KRC specializes in plastic waste collection from urban and coastal areas in Kenya. This collaboration will ensure a steady supply of plastic waste that can be transformed into rooftop tiles. KRC is also working on upgrading its equipment to scale job opportunities to women and youth in waste collection, processing and operations. KRC is actively working with the Kenyan government at national and local levels on regulatory frameworks for waste management policies. On behalf of the partnership, it will engage its existing relationships to expand the enabling environment work to include regulatory frameworks for recycled building materials, solar projects and sustainable manufacturing. 

The partnership has accomplished several milestones since the grant period began, such as developing a Climatile demo unit which was showcased at several conservation events, including the Sea Turtle Diani event, which the partnership also sponsored. The partnership also contributed to development of the Kwale County Sustainable Waste Management Act and engaged in Extended Producer Responsibility discussions convened by KEPSA and the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO). 

Takazuri signed an MoU with Power Hive to develop a sales pipeline for 15 canopies used in battery swapping stations, with the first installation at Shell Petrol Station in Karen, Nairobi. It also participated in multiple innovation challenges, including MIT SOLVE’s 2024 Global Climate Challenge, in which it was a finalist, and the World Economic Forum’s Uplink Empowering Vulnerable Communities Challenge, in which it was shortlisted as a semifinalist. 

KRC strengthened its collaboration with the Diani Municipality to advance plastic waste recycling and recognize exemplary waste collectors. It co-organized and led a Waste Collector Sensitization workshop with the Diani Municipal Board to promote 'Segregation-at-Source' practices aligned with the NEMA 2022 Waste Management policy. It also launched a Climatile buy-back scheme with Wasini Waste Free, the first Shimoni-based youth group, to conduct regular buy-backs and divert ocean-bound plastic from the Port of Shimoni and Wasini Island. Finally, KRC partnered with REEFolution to create a plastic aggregation center in Shimoni, supporting ocean-bound plastic diversion and local plastic supply chains. 

From January to June 2024, KRC collected and processed 21.7 tons of waste, with 1.3 tons of polypropylene plastic used for Climatile products. 750 people engaged in the partnership’s community awareness events on circular economy and recycling. Gender equity continues to be a focus for the partnership with women representing 61.2% of the waste collection force and 65% of recycling operations management Takazuri works with. 

During the P4G funding period, Takazuri aims to raise US $1 million in investment and create 43 new jobs. The partnership will collect 350 tons of waste and have 75 women working in management positions in the collection, sorting and processing side of operations. 

The partnership comprises the following partners: Takazuri (lead business partner); Kwale Recycling Centre (lead administrative partner).