Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 55
RECYCLING PAPER TWICE
TO SAVE TREES
IN LESOTHO
After studying incomes, sales, and marketing in
South Africa with a major in sustainable supply
chains, Lerato Moteane, 23 and from Lesotho,
started her business, Linaleli Greeting Cards,
in January 2021. Her objective: giving paper a
second life, and then a third.
CAN YOU
DESCRIBE
YOUR PROJECT?
I created Linaleli Greeting Cards to recycle
any paper, from cardboard and copy paper
to newspaper, into products such as business
cards, bookmarks, and flyers, which can then
be planted back into the earth.
“If my innovation
helps preserve trees,
we’re moving in the
right direction. If my
innovation helps save
water, we’re moving in
the right direction. And
if my innovation can
save energy then we’re
definitely on track!”
Lerato Moteane,
Linaleli Greeting Cards founder
WASTE & RECYCLING
Lerato Moteane decided to create Linaleli Greeting Cards,
a business dedicated to giving paper a second and a third life.
To do this, we embed the paper with seeds,
which we stretch out ready for printing.
Once these new recycled products are used,
they can be planted to grow into flowers,
vegetables, or herbs. Not only do we recycle
paper, we’re also embracing agriculture and
encouraging people to think about food
security, by planting their own.
Linaleli Greeting Cards is making sure that
the message of sustainability is being spread,
and that it improves sustainable management
amongst communities.
HOW DID YOU
START YOUR
JOURNEY?
The idea emerged in December 2020 when I
read an Instagram post from Beyoncé, talking
about a plantable notepad. I started to do
some research about the process, only to
realize how easy it was. The idea became reality
when I started making the product and selling
it to retailers in Lesotho, the private sector and
other entrepreneurs. Since January, I’ve tried to
involve as many people as possible, spreading
this message of sustainability.
WHAT IS YOUR
AMBITION?
The more paper is recycled and reused, the
more trees are saved and the less energy and
water are used. In addition, the fewer trees that
are cut down, the less carbon dioxide that is
emitted.
Photo credit: Green Savannah Diplomatic
Cable
Photo credit: 2021 Linaleli Greeting Cards
SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
55
