In Ethiopia, an engineer turns waste into wealth

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Behailu Seboka,30,watches proudly as his workshop hums with activity. At Askema Engineering,on the outskirts of Addis Ababa,brake pads come to life from materials most would consider waste: discarded animal by-products. What started as a university experiment now employs 268 people and serves over 6,400 clients nationwide. “With the right support,we can prove that the circular economy is not only eco-friendly but also profitable,” Seboka says.

Askema is just the tip of the iceberg of Africa’s circular economy revolution,which took center stage at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA). The event,held in Addis Ababa from October 14–16,brought together 21 African countries and 19 partner institutions,including the African Union,the African Development Bank,and UNDP,with the ambitious goal of turning waste into wealth and jobs.

Infrastructure and Cooperation drive transformation in East Africa

Across the continent,small and medium-sized enterprises are demonstrating the feasibility of circularity. In Madagascar,local innovators are turning polyethylene bags into strong threads for handbags. In Burkina Faso,plastic waste is being repurposed into paving blocks,school desks,and urban furniture. Each project provides tangible proof that African ingenuity can transform trash into infrastructure,opportunity,and development.

ACEA,supported by the African Circular Economy Fund (ACEF) and the Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) of the African Union,seeks to harmonize standards,policies,and investment. The goal: move from isolated initiatives to a cohesive industrial ecosystem that transforms ideas,materials,and youth into powerful economic levers,as explained by Nathaniel Oluoch Agola,interim director of the African Development Bank in Ethiopia.

International diplomacy and cooperation are also crucial. Finland’s ambassador to Ethiopia,Sinikka Antila,highlighted her country’s commitment to Africa’s circular economy,while delegates such as Aubin Ndodjide from Chad emphasized the potential to convert green opportunities into sustainable employment for the continent’s youth.

Innovate,Recycle,Prosper. Africa is not only reinventing how it handles waste: it is proving that with ingenuity,investment,and smart policies,the circular economy can ignite a new era of industrialization and employment across the continent.