Kukia

Kukia was designed to solve several problems at once. The invasive water hyacinth plant clogs up waterways and restricts fishing. By paying for its collection, Kukia also provides employment to mostly women in surrounding communities. The fibre production process itself creates further employment. The parts of the plant that aren’t useful for the fibre are used elsewhere - roots are composted and leaves are turned into animal feed. Once the stem fibre has been used on an oil spill or leak, it can be repurposed as a fuel source by cement factories.