Kenyan start-up turning invasive plant into biodegradable packaging
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HyaPak, a Kenyan start-up, turns invasive water hyacinths into biodegradable packaging, helping reduce plastic waste and supporting local fishermen.
A Kenyan start-up, HyaPak, founded by Joseph Nguthiru, is tackling the dual environmental crises of invasive water hyacinths and plastic waste by turning the invasive plant into biodegradable packaging. The water hyacinth has wreaked havoc on Lake Naivasha, a popular water body north-west of Nairobi, causing problems for local fishermen. The plant chokes the waterway, entangling boats and reducing oxygen levels, which, in turn, causes a decline in fish populations. Fisherman Simon Macharia noted a significant drop in his catch, from 90 kilograms per day to just 10-15 kilograms, due to the plant’s impact on fish breeding zones.
Nguthiru’s solution arose from his final-year university project, which was inspired by a field excursion on Lake Naivasha. After getting stuck in the waters, Nguthiru realized that the water hyacinth, while damaging the environment, could be used as a resource. His company, HyaPak, works with the affected fishermen to harvest the invasive plant and turn it into eco-friendly packaging products. The process begins with the fishermen collecting the water hyacinth, drying it on-site, and transporting it to HyaPak’s facilities. There, it is combined with binders and additives to create biodegradable packaging materials.
Nguthiru explains that the idea is to solve one environmental problem—plastic pollution—by using another: water hyacinth. The biodegradable products that HyaPak creates are an alternative to plastic, especially in industries like agriculture, which rely heavily on plastic for packaging seedlings. HyaPak’s biodegradable bags, when used in agriculture, offer added benefits. As they decompose in the soil, they release nutrients that help accelerate plant growth and reduce water consumption needed for irrigation. This innovation is a win-win for both the environment and the agricultural sector.
In addition to local efforts, HyaPak has expanded its operations internationally, exporting its products to the United States and Germany. The company has ambitious plans to grow further, with future franchises in India and El Salvador, two countries also grappling with the issue of water hyacinth infestation. Nguthiru hopes that by scaling up the business, HyaPak can help other regions tackle both invasive plant problems and plastic pollution in a sustainable way.
Through this innovative approach, HyaPak is turning a local environmental challenge into a global opportunity for sustainable business practices, contributing to the fight against plastic pollution while providing economic benefits to communities affected by the invasive water hyacinth. By creating biodegradable packaging from this plant, Nguthiru is offering a new avenue for reducing plastic waste while supporting the livelihoods of those working on the frontlines of environmental conservation.
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