How African nations reuse their materials and avoid plastic
Countries in Africa are very resourceful when it comes to reuse, repurposing items that are commonly seen as waste.
Let’s explore some of the ways that African nations reuse their local materials. Before we begin, here are a few definitions:
Raffia: A natural fibre stripped from the leaves of the raffia plant. It’s strong and pretty lightweight.
Sisal: The fibre of sisal, derived from the Agave sisalana plant, is used for sturdy items such as rope and carpets.
Calabash: A fruit tree that bears gourd-like fruit which can be large and rounded or small and shaped like a bottle.
What are these materials used for?
According to a report from Gaia and Break Free From Plastic, various African countries use traditional items such as plant leaves, clay, wood, iron and bronze. They’re suitable for making food containers, bags, clothing and other everyday essentials.
Handwoven baskets are made from the aforementioned raffia and sisal, as well as reed and dried palm leaves. These are crafted across the continent. What you’ll also find is that, rather than the wasteful nappies and menstrual products that we toss away, they make the most of reusable cloth. Kitchen staples in the form of olive oil and coconut oil are favoured as a base for cleaning over harsher detergents and agents.
Speaking of food, dried calabashes are repurposed as serving dishes or containers to transport food, with sun drying and fermenting reducing dependence on single-use containers. In clay pots they store honey, dried herbs and preserved meat. That’s the case all over Africa.
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If we zoom in on Uganda, Cameroon, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Senegal, banana leaves are used to serve food. North African countries and Ethiopia, meanwhile, serve and mop up food with injera bread, reducing the need for plates and utensils.
These practices promote sustainability, boost the local economy and bring communities together, to name just three benefits.
Lessons for the UK
So, what can we learn from Africa? Better use of natural materials is a good starting point. Hemp is grown here and has a huge range of practical applications. Take a gander at these:
Activewear
Pants and socks
Bed clothes
Curtains
Writing paper
Toilet paper
Biodegradable food packaging
Building construction and insulation
Wool abounds in the UK, and its lesser-known functions include mulch, slug pellets and building insulation. Wool’s flame-retardant properties and capability to withstand temperatures up to 600°C make it an ideal material for firefighters’ uniforms and PPE. Its breathable nature keeps these emergency workers comfortable too.
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For more information contact: info@scarabtrust.org.uk
Images:
street market in marrakesh - Image by Diji Aderogba (ST ref: 1418)
Nigerian artisan crafting calabash bowls - Image by Finalchoice (ST ref: 1417)
ID 250310-B
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