Beti Ande

Nigerian entrepreneur revolutionizing eco-friendly packaging through biodegradable innovation

Beti Ande is a visionary entrepreneur from Nigeria who has made significant contributions to environmental sustainability through her pioneering work in developing eco-friendly packaging solutions. Born in Lagos in 1990, Ande's journey began with a deep concern for the plastic pollution crisis plaguing her homeland and the African continent. Her company GreenPack Solutions, founded in 2020, has become a leader in creating biodegradable packaging materials derived from agricultural waste such as cassava peels and plantain fibers.

Through innovative UNEP-recognized processes, Ande's team produces compostable packaging that decomposes within 90 days compared to plastic's 450+ years. This breakthrough has enabled over 200 small businesses in West Africa to transition from plastic use, diverting 120 tons of waste from landfills annually by 2023. Her work has been highlighted in African Business Magazine and earned her the 2023 Women in Sustainability Award from the World Economic Forum.

Ande's impact extends beyond business through her GreenPack Academy, offering free workshops to rural communities on converting local organic waste into income-generating materials. This initiative has empowered over 3,000 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria's Delta and Ogun states, creating sustainable livelihoods while addressing environmental challenges. Her TEDx talk "From Trash to Treasure: Redesigning Waste Economies" has garnered 800k+ views, inspiring global audiences.

In 2024, Ande partnered with the African Union to scale her model across 15 countries through the Pan-African Green Packaging Initiative. Her work has been featured in The Guardian's 2023 list of 10 African Climate Innovators and received seed funding from the Climate Innovation Accelerator (CIA). Ande's vision of a circular economy where waste becomes resource continues to redefine sustainability practices in Africa and beyond.