Fola Arotile

Nigerian engineer transforming plastic waste into sustainable fashion

Folashade Arotile is a Nigerian materials engineer and social entrepreneur behind the groundbreaking initiative Waste2Wear Africa. Founded in 2013, this venture converts discarded plastic waste into fashionable accessories and clothing, creating both environmental and economic impact. Through partnerships with local communities, her company collects over 2 tons of plastic waste weekly from Lagos landfills, diverting it from oceans and landfills while providing employment to 150+ artisans.

Arotile's patented process transforms PET plastic into yarn that's used to create bags, shoes, and apparel sold internationally through her e-commerce platform. This circular economy model has prevented over 500,000kg of plastic from entering the environment since 2015. Her designs have been featured in Vogue Italia and worn by UN Goodwill Ambassadors during climate summits.

Beyond product innovation, Arotile's 'Plastic Literacy' program educates 10,000+ students annually on recycling practices. Her work was highlighted in the 2020 Netflix documentary Plastic Paradise and earned her the 2021 Africa Climate Award. Current projects include developing biodegradable packaging materials and expanding operations to Ivory Coast and Ghana.