Tackling Global Development Goals with Sustainable Innovations: BASF Starting Ventures and Terra Safi Waste Recovery Solutions Partnership in Kenya

Global Development Goals

The global community has set ambitious objectives to address the pressing challenges of our time through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015. These 17 goals are designed to create a blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030. They address a range of global issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment, and social justice.

Key goals among these include:

• No Poverty (SDG 1): Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2): Achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6): Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• Climate Action (SDG 13): Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

BASF Starting Ventures and Development Goals

BASF, a global leader in chemicals and sustainable solutions, has committed to contributing to these global goals through various initiatives. One of its notable programs is Starting Ventures Program through which BASF collaborates with local partners for sustainable development. The program aims to develop and implement business models that improve the quality of life of people with low incomes, often in emerging markets. The initiative aligns closely with several SDGs by fostering economic growth, innovation, and sustainable practices. It demonstrates BASF’s corporate purpose of “Creating Chemistry for a Sustainable Future”.

Starting Ventures focuses on:

• Recycling projects (setting up local recycling/composting projects)
• Knowledge and Local Industry development (developing local and affordable solutions)
• Smallholder community projects (empowering farmers, sharing farming techniques)

Through Starting Ventures, BASF leverages its expertise in chemistry and materials science to develop solutions that can be scaled and adapted to local needs, thus driving sustainable development, and improving livelihoods.

Terra Safi Waste Recovery Solutions and BASF Starting Ventures Partnership

Together BASF East Africa and TERRA SAFI are conducting a trial on TERRA SAFI’s in-vessel composting solutions that have the potential to decentralize industrial composting and increase compost output at the community level in Kwale County taking care of the organic waste that is generated by the Tourism Industry in that county, which also unfortunately has a 40% youth unemployment rate.

By the end of the project, it is envisaged that we will have jointly created a decentralized community network that will be able to produce high-quality compost that can be sold to the local farming community and in the process demand for biodegradable and compostable bin liners made with ecovio® – a compostable biopolymer in line with the Sustainable Waste Management regulations

Through this project, we are addressing several SDGs directly, including responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13).

Terra Safi specializes in transforming organic waste into valuable resources. Their innovative approach involves:

• Waste Collection and Segregation: Implementing efficient systems for collecting and sorting organic waste.
• Composting: Converting organic waste into compost, which can be used as a soil fertilizer.
• Community Engagement: Educating local communities on waste management practices and the benefits of organic waste recovery.

Project in Kenya: The partnership with BASF has enabled Terra Safi to expand its operations in Kenya, where waste management poses significant challenges. The project aims to:

• Reduce Landfill Waste: The project helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution by diverting organic waste from landfills.
• Promote Sustainable Waste Management: Using compostable and biodegradable waste bags made from BASF’s ecovio®, we are promoting waste segregation at source enabling an innovative circular waste management solution.
• Enhance Soil Fertility: The compost produced improves soil health and agricultural productivity, benefiting local farmers.
• Create Employment: The project generates job opportunities in waste collection, processing, and distribution, contributing to economic growth.

Through this collaboration, BASF and Terra Safi are not only addressing critical waste management issues but also creating a model for sustainable development that can be replicated in other regions. This project exemplifies how innovative partnerships can drive progress toward achieving global development goals, fostering a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.

In conclusion, the partnership between BASF Starting Ventures and Terra Safi Waste Recovery Solutions represents a significant step towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. By focusing on organic waste management in Kenya, they are making tangible impacts on environmental sustainability, economic growth, and community well-being, showcasing the power of collaborative efforts in driving global development.