The Story of George Kwame Quansah
George Kwame Quansah is the founder and country manager of Buy Food with Plastic, Ghana, a not-for-profit organization focusing on ending poverty and promoting sustainable production by upcycling plastic and consumption. George Kwame Quansah graduated with a Roxbourg Humanitarian MBA from the Roxbourg Institute of Social Entrepreneurship (RISE), Switzerland with coaching from Obrobibini Peace Complex (OPC), Ghana.
Buy Food With Plastic (BFWP) aims to tackle two major global problems simultaneously - plastic pollution and extreme poverty. Two UN SDGs - ending poverty (Goal 1) and promoting sustainable production and consumption (Goal 12). BFWP organizes events in Ghana where the local population can pay for hot meals using plastic bottles or pure water sachets. This not only provides people in need with food but also raises awareness about environmental issues like plastic waste. The vision is to leverage the circular economy where collected plastic bottles are processed into new products and reintegrated into the production of new products.
What is the vision and the philosophy of Buy Food With Plastic?
The vision is to create a self-sustaining business model to end poverty, where the collected plastic bottles are processed into new products and reintegrated into the market through sales. This is an implementation of "think globally, act locally" in a nutshell - tackling global problems by finding locally adaptable solutions.
Monthly events are organized in Ghana, where the community can engage and exchange 20 plastic bottles for a nutritious meal. Thus, giving a monetary value to plastic and an incentive to collect plastic and create new products, like surf combs in Nicaragua and outdoor blankets in Ghana. Thus, transforming plastic as waste into valuable goods. The venture focuses also on education and advocacy programs with the creation of awareness campaigns about plastic usage, the importance of recycling, and the role of upcycling.
How did the idea of collecting plastic as a way to end poverty come from?
The idea was born when the founders witnessed the challenges of both plastic pollution and extreme poverty firsthand in Ghana. They wanted to involve the local communities and set up a venture that could create local jobs by organizing events and an upcycling factory, providing food security, and finding environmental solutions.
When did you realize you wanted to be a social entrepreneur? How did you define your purpose?
In 2019, as a tour guide in Ghana, I observed widespread plastic waste even at the country's highest tourist destinations. Discussing this issue with tourists led to the idea of starting a project to reduce plastic waste. This led to the founding of Buy Food with Plastic (BFWP) in Ghana. BFWP's purpose is to hold events where locals can exchange 20 plastic bottles or £0 pure water sachets for a balanced meal. This incentivizes the collection of plastic waste while providing food security for the local population. BFWP's approach harnesses the community's involvement to address the global problem of plastic pollution.
What was your first project? What were your lessons learned?
The venture's first "Buy Food with Plastic" initiative in Ghana taught me valuable lessons. I learned that plastic pollution was not the only pressing issue - poverty and food insecurity were equally important. Exchanging plastic waste for meals proved an impactful integrated solution. Crucially, I recognized the need for sustained community engagement, education, and awareness-raising to drive long-term, sustainable change in plastic usage and waste management. These insights shaped the venture's subsequent expansion to other villages in Ghana and its alignment with circular economy principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The initial project demonstrated the power of holistic, community-centric approaches to tackle complex global challenges.
Describe your journey. Smooth sailing or a roller coaster ride?
The venture's journey thus far has been a mix of both smooth sailing and roller coaster moments. Starting with the initial "Buy Food with Plastic" project in Ghana, we quickly realized the need to adopt a more holistic, community-centric approach to tackle the interconnected challenges of plastic pollution and poverty. This realization, while formative, also presented new logistical and operational hurdles to overcome. As the venture expanded to other villages, it had to navigate complex cultural contexts, build local partnerships, and continuously refine its model to ensure relevance and impact. There have been successes and setbacks along the way, but the team's commitment to integrated, sustainable solutions has kept them moving forward, learning from each experience. Overall, it has been a dynamic journey, requiring flexibility, resilience, and a steadfast focus on the venture's core mission and values
What are you building right now? What is your ambition?
Currently, the venture is focused on further scaling and strengthening its core "Buy Food with Plastic" program in Ghana. This involves optimizing the logistics of plastic collection and meal distribution, forging deeper partnerships with local communities, and expanding the network of monthly events. Alongside this, the venture is investing in its plastic upcycling capabilities to create a wider range of value-added products from the collected waste.
The goal is to close the loop by reintegrating these recycled goods back into local economies, generating livelihoods and income while reducing plastic pollution. We have built an office space, purchased a shredder machine, and hired 2 employees to sort out plastic bottles. Looking ahead, the venture's ambition is to establish this holistic, circular model as a replicable, global solution that addresses the interlinked challenges of poverty and environmental degradation. By continuously learning and adapting, the team hopes to expand into new regions and inspire similar initiatives worldwide.
How can everyone support you?
Key ways one can support the venture's mission include spreading awareness about the venture and its integrated approach to tackling plastic pollution and poverty. Also, financial contributions, whether through direct donations or by purchasing the venture's recycled products, can provide crucial funding to scale operations, improve infrastructure, and develop new circular economy solutions. Finally, offering expertise, resources or partnerships related to logistics, community outreach, product design or other relevant domains can help strengthen the venture's capabilities and reach. By collaborating with diverse stakeholders, the venture can continue innovating and expanding its impact worldwide
If you would like to learn more about BuyFoodWithPlastic (BFWP), please visit the website and social media pages:
