Bethelhem Dejene
OYW Funded Project
Zafree Papers is an Ethiopian company that manufactures paper and paper products using 100% tree-free pulp made from agricultural waste. Founded by Bethelhem in 2017, Zafree Papers’ solutions are non-toxic and 100% recyclable. The organisation’s tree-free pulp means fewer trees being cut, less crop-residue being burned, and is of higher quality than pulp made from waste paper. Before the Lead2030 programme, the organisation was in the process of proving its product to prospective investors.
As a Lead2030 Challenge Winner with the 100+ Accelerator powered by AB InBev, Zafree Papers used the funding it received to set up its pilot factory, begin production, and send samples to AB InBev’s South African markets. This has helped the company prove its product quality to a global standard. Zafree is currently focused on packaging, collaborating with 20 local farmers to collect banana stems, extracting the fibre, and transforming the pulp into corrugated boxes. Waste from this fibre extraction is processed into a nutrient-dense fertiliser through vermicomposting, to reduce the impact of waste by-products. The company offers 100% virgin kraft paper that can be used in food packaging or even heavy material packages.
The mentorship opportunities offered by the Lead2030 programme gave Bethelhem new skills to develop partnerships with corporates. The partnership with AB InBev also led to a shift in strategic priorities for Zafree Papers, in terms of product offerings and market location, with the organisation sending samples to the South African market. As such, the Lead2030 programme has accelerated Bethelhem’s goal to disrupt the packaging industry with 100% tree-free and sustainable packaging solutions in the coming years.
“During the Lead2030 programme, in terms of sustainable leadership, I learned a lot throughout the entire process, especially through the partnership we had with the 100+ Accelerator. It really helped us to see the world through different eyes, especially in terms of business, in terms of expansion, in terms of going global and what it requires to actually go global.”
100% tree-free pulp, paper, and paper products produced using agricultural waste