Eunice Wainaina

Kenyan environmental engineer pioneering biodegradable alternatives to plastic waste

Eunice Wainaina is a materials scientist whose 2020 discovery of a novel bioplastic derived from cassava starch has revolutionized sustainable packaging in Africa. Her company GreenBio Africa now supplies 70% of Kenya's supermarkets with compostable produce bags that degrade completely in 90 days. This innovation has diverted 22 million kg of plastic from oceans annually according to a 2024 UN Environment Programme study.

Wainaina's breakthrough came during her PhD research at the University of Nairobi when she discovered a natural polymer in cassava waste that could replace petroleum-based plastics. Her patented CassavaFlex™ material maintains strength at extreme temperatures and costs 30% less than conventional plastics. By 2025, her technology was adopted by 15 African nations and recognized with the African Innovation Foundation's 2023 Grand Prize.

Beyond product development, Wainaina co-founded the Plastic Free Corridors initiative, training 5,000+ women in recycling cooperatives across East Africa. Her 2022 documentary The Cassava Revolution inspired similar projects in Ghana and Nigeria. She recently partnered with UNDP to scale her technology across the Sahel region.

Wainaina's work has been featured in National Geographic's 2024 climate issue and earned her a 2025 Rolex Enterprise Award. She currently serves on the African Union's Sustainability Advisory Board and is developing a seaweed-based packaging solution for coastal communities.