Features
A Green Solution
Grads aim to manufacture biodegradable plastics
BY DEIRDRE HEALEY
Kwasi Danso graduated from U of G this winter with a degree in hospitality and tourism management. But instead of starting a job search or heading to graduate school, he began working full time trying to launch a business with two other recent B.Comm. graduates, Jonathan Wolff and Ashley Van Herten.
“Getting this business started is what I live and breathe right now,” says Danso. “Every day is spent trying to get the word out and meeting with potential clients.”
Their company is called Green World Solutions, and their business idea is to manufacture and distribute biodegradable plastic products across the Greater Toronto Area.
The concept grew out of a class project more than a year ago. Since then the team qualified for a national business pitching competition held in Ottawa in May and managed to place a close second.
To qualify, they first had to sell their idea to a panel of judges at the University's business pitching competition hosted by the College of Management and Economics (CME). They placed second in the Nicol Venture Creation Competition, which earned them a $2,000 cash prize provided by the Wesley and Mary Nicol Charitable Foundation and the opportunity to participate in the regional competition.
At the Nicol LaunchPad $50K held in April in Waterloo, the students competed against the top three teams from nine Ontario universities and Conestoga College for cash prizes totalling $50,000. They placed fourth, missing out on the money but qualifying for the national event.
In Ottawa they competed against five other student teams for the Wes Nicol Entrepreneurial Award. A team from Wilfrid Laurier University won, but the judges reported it was a close decision between the winning team and Green World Solutions.
“This has been a great experience,” says Danso. “Having the opportunity to go to this national competition was another chance to showcase our product and meet more people and more contacts.”
The students are targeting food services that use plastic cutlery and Styrofoam plates and containers. They're also working on marketing biodegradable plastic garbage and shopping bags as well as plastic wrap used to protect newspapers and products on skids.
The company's idea is based on using an additive in the production of plastic products that makes the material biodegradable, says Danso.
“The additive basically allows microbes to attack the plastic and break it down. This process can take anywhere from nine months to five years, and the plastics degrade into biomass, CO2 and water.”
Prof. David Prescott, CME associate dean (academic), who attended the national competition, says the strength of Green World Solutions comes from the confidence the team members have in their idea.
“They are passionate about their business, which promises to provide truly biodegradable plastics - a promise that has been made before by others but not delivered,” he says. “On stage, their passion comes through as they stand before huge images of garbage dumps, hurling bags of garbage in front of the audience. Their voices are strong and convincing, making it an entirely captivating performance. And of course, their message is one this University can support wholeheartedly.”