Following in the footsteps of Sustainability, Grace & Gurmeet (Sonia) join the eco-entrepreneurs in Glass Upcycling and Environmental Impact, changing their city for the better by creating products for Kenya and the world.

Almost a decade ago we founded ONISA Designs – a creative design and lifestyle company based in Nairobi, Kenya and subsequently came KIJANI GLASS.

KIJANI GLASS forms the upcycling wing of ONISA Designs, shining light on the possibilities of second chances, with KIJANI Glass we took upcycling into mainstream capitalism by transforming post-consumer glass bottles into glassware and other functional lifestyle products defined as three in one, Iconic, Functional and Purposeful. We have designed a range of products such as lighting, tableware and accessories under the KIJANI brand. Our goal is to leave a Magnus Opus Legacy.

The do WARRIORS – upcycling for environment and society, is an initiative inspired by our very own team to get things done, this initiative has been instrumental in the trailblazing dedication of cleaning up the dirty business of bottles, we rescue and refresh gin, liquor, whiskey, wine and vodka bottles from local bars and restaurants. With the future in focus as well as the universal call to action the UN Sustainable Development Goals it is our hope that society will take collective action and join us for the good of our planet. We take conscious steps in participating in hosted events to raise awareness on the importance of upcycling and waste prevention for contribution, economic potential and impact on habits.  

We urge society to take small eco-focused lifestyle changes with our 5R policy, which we expanded from the worldwide 3R policy to accommodate our business model.  Before you purchase a bottle think and RETHINK the use of not just the content but the bottle as well, REUSE the bottle in your environment and attempt for it not to get to landfill, RESCUE if you have no use for it dispose it responsibly and this is where do WARRIORS comes in after which we REFRESH the bottle and the consumer REBUYS the finished product.

Up to the minute we are also gratified to see an interest from the schools who are coming together in Kenya to educate their students on how to follow a sustainable path and we are thrilled to be a part of these discussions in which we intend to raise awareness about the cause we champion and learn about other people who enhance and add value to the environment. 

KIJANI GLASS recently received a large scale order from Banange Brewing Company and Yujo Izakaya in Kampala, Uganda and this showed us that there are businesses out there rooted in social responsibility and we are proud to already have presence in the neighboring countries and look forward to global expansion.

The opportunities in glass upcycling are bountiful, at KIJANI GLASS we have created employment opportunities in waste management, in part of our job as creators the creative intervention allows us to make products of good quality and of value whilst spreading our message regarding the environment, it is deeply satisfying to see a glass bottles that would have been disposed off enter our workshop and come out transformed reducing the amount of glass bottles going into landfill, pollution and waste.

The upcycling opportunity does not ensue without its counterpart of challenges and it is no secret that our society generates an enormous about of glass bottle waste on a daily basis whether from homes, bars and restaurants and this compound effect is leading to mammoth heaps of bottles going into landfill recognizably there are various clean-up companies that have been implemented in our society however the challenge is the bottles outweigh the collection or the land. KIJANI GLASS is making such a small change, which of course is important but a bigger and more dramatic impact is required to make a significant difference in the magnitude of the bottles going into landfill. Consumers also have the mindset that because it is upcycled it has to be cheap or even free and this is a such a serious misconception as bottle collection takes a great deal of patience, the process takes creativity, effort, time and technique. There are many people involved in each phase of the project from collection through to design and finally refreshed. The logistics of refreshed and not manufactured.

 “If we could give any advice to start up entrepreneurs who want to be responsible in their entrepreneurship would be to begin with the United Nations Blueprint of Sustainable Goals and incorporate them into your strategy and the expansion will take place from there. Then move onto making small eco-focused lifestyle changes both personally and profession as these two paths go together.

It takes time to clean up the pollution as it has been building up daily for decades and the solution will take persistence of believing in the cause, but little efforts over time will impact the environment. Adaptability is an important part of the journey as in order to effect change, you will be required to think and operate in different ways. Also, promote your work to raise awareness so that people know that you exist. To finish off, read as much as you can as this gives a clear idea and facilitates planning.

We are in this to leave the world a better place.