Green Tech Africa – Nature’s Answer to Industrial Waste
The start-up from Congo developed an organic absorbent fibre from a local invasive plant, the water hyacinth, to clean up oil spills. Their solution addresses two problems at the same time: an environmental pest and pollution by oil spills, which both contribute to lowering the quality of life in coastal communities.
The harvest of the abundant plant not only helps preserve the aquatic environment, but its processing also creates a fibre that is able to absorb toxic oil from the water, reversing the pollution. The company furthermore makes a social impact by creating jobs, especially for local women. The absorbents are collected and repurposed as biofuel for cement kilns, closing the loop and promoting a circular economy. For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) presented Green Tech Africa as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for July 2025.
Unlike conventional synthetic absorbents on the market, their product, Kukia, can absorb up to 17 times its weight in petroleum-based pollutants, making it highly efficient for cleaning oil spills on water and land. The solution helps restore aquatic ecosystems, improve water quality, and protect biodiversity. The model is replicable across African countries facing similar environmental challenges.
Additionally, Green Tech Africa’s model goes beyond product provision by offering expertise advice, training, and ecological cleaning services that emphasize prevention, effective leak management, and bioremediation. This holistic approach ensures long-term environmental compliance and restoration rather than temporary fixes.
The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in July 2025 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website at Start-up Green Tech Africa (isc3.org).
Three questions for Divin Kouebatouka (Founder & CEO of Green Tech Africa):
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Divin Kouebatouka: Green Tech Africa was founded out of a personal and urgent environmental challenge faced by my and my mother´s village in Congo-Brazzaville, where water hyacinth, a highly invasive aquatic plant, had devastated the lake ecosystem, halting fishing, the village's main economic activity. This local environmental crisis, combined with the broader issue of uncontrolled petroleum-based industrial pollution in Congo (an oil-producing OPEC member with frequent oil spills), inspired me to explore sustainable chemistry solutions that could address both problems simultaneously.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
D. Kouebatouka: Being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month is a tremendous honour and a powerful validation of Green Tech Africa’s mission and hard work. It recognizes the innovative potential of our sustainable chemistry solutions and highlights the impact we are making in addressing environmental challenges in Africa. This recognition boosts our visibility, opens doors to new partnerships, and strengthens our credibility with investors, clients, and communities. It also motivates our team and local partners, affirming that our efforts to transform invasive plants into valuable resources are making a real difference. Ultimately, this accolade inspires us to accelerate our growth, deepen our social and environmental impact, and continue pioneering green technologies for a sustainable future.
What’s next up at Green Tech Africa?
D. Kouebatouka: Green Tech Africa’s future projects and next steps focus on scaling up production and expanding market reach through the implementation of the continent’s first biorefinery for invasive plants. This biorefinery will transform water hyacinth biomass into energy such as biogas and a variety of products, starting with industrial decontamination and soil mitigation absorbent fibres. The company plans to transition from artisanal to semi-industrial production on a dedicated one-hectare site equipped for raw material storage, processing, finished product storage, and environmental services, enabling high-quality manufacturing standards.
Green Tech Africa will also expand exports by testing and establishing buffer stocks in neighbouring countries as well as internationally, aiming to grow distribution across the sub-region. New service offerings will include the collection and recycling of hydrocarbon-soaked absorbents into alternative fuels for cement plants and the introduction of water hyacinth-based absorbent sheets for industrial applications. Additionally, the company will develop composting solutions to improve soil fertility and provide expertise in consulting, bioremediation, ecological cleanup, and training services for industrial clients.
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