![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/37ER4RDLSNEB5LL26W3D63MWRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4042442424568f3c5eeb588d97df4d3ff82db90c410d8510982ce4de4edd8cc&width=400&height=225)
Wege sells the bags to boutiques and pharmaceutical companies Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
Henrietta Moon, founder of Finnish start-up Carbo Culture, says carbon removal technology companies are valuable. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OT2HCXG7SNDLBAO65NECZMY724.png?smart=true&auth=504c6f2b79152918d901691a87ff50dd92d371db70f471cedd1dc98dd1aeabcd&width=400&height=225)
Carbo Culture uses bio-char generated from dust pellets and waste wood to lock in carbon. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B2OR65FRJNDGJLIJOVJJZ63XZM.png?smart=true&auth=c050a4566f79ca0f8ab3385c561b6b52d5d7ac9726f10164b6f4de02d922d6a2&width=400&height=225)
The company aims to extract 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDQCPKONSJBDZLF5IDH76YXMCM.png?smart=true&auth=8594764ddecf991b298ba65fab1bdafdf7488c94de7d0e15bafb5ed9ec010990&width=400&height=225)
It has plants in the US and Europe and its bio-char can be used to improve soil quality. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VRUY24VY5FY5MRLAJBGJKZPZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c35f3cc31e5f8ab4cf707b760e140538b7bdb0947da30e746684227e5a247cf&width=400&height=225)
Jolis Nduwimana, an entrepreneur from Burundi, says he built connections at Cop28 to support his sustainability ambitions. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
His start-up Wege collects plant, banana and paper waste from 15,200 small-scale farms that would otherwise be burnt. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PEVU4NWVUBFJZGWCPNUM5TIC6Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=024ba2e47968c7bbc797779bb9ea5f499a9503548e8d98e3eb8ea83aa6f80bdb&width=400&height=225)
The waste is boiled in vats and transformed into eco-friendly bags. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JO23OIOJQBH67FNNCMWRZQZQ6A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=95a0ea80ef26c435bc540616b712a08d0d1cc76e35102c32443c089a9cd5a5d4&width=400&height=225)
The company now makes 500 eco-friendly bags each day with ambition to grow to 2,000. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CZFKY5QZM5A7HONUOFQQUOXI74.jpeg?smart=true&auth=241b46fe7f5a0aacf40363f1ef5610bba693042d06e5987d3c8481aacebe2066&width=400&height=225)
A Burundi ban on plastic bags set Mr Nduwimana thinking about a solution. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The team spends hours separating paper, banana and rice waste before its converted to pulp. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The waste would otherwise be burnt or rot in landfills. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The pulp is dried in the sun before being used to make bags. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/37ER4RDLSNEB5LL26W3D63MWRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4042442424568f3c5eeb588d97df4d3ff82db90c410d8510982ce4de4edd8cc&width=400&height=225)
Wege sells the bags to boutiques and pharmaceutical companies Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
Henrietta Moon, founder of Finnish start-up Carbo Culture, says carbon removal technology companies are valuable. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OT2HCXG7SNDLBAO65NECZMY724.png?smart=true&auth=504c6f2b79152918d901691a87ff50dd92d371db70f471cedd1dc98dd1aeabcd&width=400&height=225)
Carbo Culture uses bio-char generated from dust pellets and waste wood to lock in carbon. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B2OR65FRJNDGJLIJOVJJZ63XZM.png?smart=true&auth=c050a4566f79ca0f8ab3385c561b6b52d5d7ac9726f10164b6f4de02d922d6a2&width=400&height=225)
The company aims to extract 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDQCPKONSJBDZLF5IDH76YXMCM.png?smart=true&auth=8594764ddecf991b298ba65fab1bdafdf7488c94de7d0e15bafb5ed9ec010990&width=400&height=225)
It has plants in the US and Europe and its bio-char can be used to improve soil quality. Photo: Carbo Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VRUY24VY5FY5MRLAJBGJKZPZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c35f3cc31e5f8ab4cf707b760e140538b7bdb0947da30e746684227e5a247cf&width=400&height=225)
Jolis Nduwimana, an entrepreneur from Burundi, says he built connections at Cop28 to support his sustainability ambitions. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
His start-up Wege collects plant, banana and paper waste from 15,200 small-scale farms that would otherwise be burnt. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PEVU4NWVUBFJZGWCPNUM5TIC6Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=024ba2e47968c7bbc797779bb9ea5f499a9503548e8d98e3eb8ea83aa6f80bdb&width=400&height=225)
The waste is boiled in vats and transformed into eco-friendly bags. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JO23OIOJQBH67FNNCMWRZQZQ6A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=95a0ea80ef26c435bc540616b712a08d0d1cc76e35102c32443c089a9cd5a5d4&width=400&height=225)
The company now makes 500 eco-friendly bags each day with ambition to grow to 2,000. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CZFKY5QZM5A7HONUOFQQUOXI74.jpeg?smart=true&auth=241b46fe7f5a0aacf40363f1ef5610bba693042d06e5987d3c8481aacebe2066&width=400&height=225)
A Burundi ban on plastic bags set Mr Nduwimana thinking about a solution. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The team spends hours separating paper, banana and rice waste before its converted to pulp. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The waste would otherwise be burnt or rot in landfills. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
The pulp is dried in the sun before being used to make bags. Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/37ER4RDLSNEB5LL26W3D63MWRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4042442424568f3c5eeb588d97df4d3ff82db90c410d8510982ce4de4edd8cc&width=400&height=225)
Wege sells the bags to boutiques and pharmaceutical companies Photo: Jolis Nduwimana
Cop28 entrepreneurs eye inventive new ways of cutting carbon after summit
Start-up founders explain how the conference has boosted their sustainable businesses
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
14 December, 2023
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