Industrial bioplastics are no longer just an idea, and a set of African entrepreneurs are turning plant waste and invasive species into real biopolymer products, paving the way for a greener manufacturing future.
Here are the top 5 African entrepreneurs driving innovation in industrial bioplastics:
— Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya): Founder of HyaPak, Nguthiru converts water hyacinth, a highly invasive plant, into fully biodegradable bioplastic materials. His work helps restore ecosystems while creating compostable packaging solutions.
— Mark Musinguzi (Uganda): Co‑founder and Team Lead at Hya Bioplastics, Musinguzi uses agricultural by-products like banana stems and cassava starch to make biodegradable food packaging. His bioplastics are cost-competitive with petroleum-based plastic and support local farmers.
— Victor Mugambe (Uganda): Co‑founder of Eden BioPlastics, Mugambe helps produce PHA biopolymers, biodegradable polymers made via bio-manufacturing, that can be used for a variety of sustainable industrial products.
— Charles Oyamo (Kenya): Co‑founder & CEO of Rethread Africa, Oyamo develops compostable bioplastics (PHA) from sugarcane waste using engineered microbial processes, targeting packaging industries with eco-friendly solutions.
— Gabriel C. Magumba (Kenya): Founder & CEO of Sai Green Africa, Magumba produces biodegradable bags derived from vegetable oil waste and starch, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bags.
These entrepreneurs are not just reducing waste, they’re reshaping how materials are made in Africa, proving that sustainable manufacturing can be both profitable and planet-friendly.
Selected individuals are African entrepreneurs who lead or co-lead companies producing industrial-scale bioplastics, based on innovation, measurable environmental benefit, and verifiable business activity as of 2025.
Image Credit: Med – Tech Insights
