Derrick Sarfo turns plastic into sustainable opportunities

In Ghana, a young entrepreneur is proving that a committed vision can turn environmental challenges into opportunities for inclusive development. Derrick Sarfo, founder and director of DercolBags Packaging Ltd., has made the fight against plastic pollution a driver of social and economic innovation.

His entrepreneurial journey stems from a tragedy. In 2015, the devastating floods in Accra, worsened by plastic waste clogging drains, left a deep mark on Derrick and pushed him to act. Three years later, he founded DercolBags, a social enterprise that designs sustainable packaging made from paper, cardboard and other biodegradable materials.

But for Derrick, it is not just about producing alternatives to plastic. His project is also a platform for training and empowerment: the company now employs 18 young people, including 8 women, and has trained more than 140 people in sustainable packaging practices, reaching over 12,000 online learners. More than 463 Ghanaian businesses already use his solutions, helping to eliminate nearly 12,000 tonnes of single-use plastics.

Always attentive to the needs of his community, he has ensured that 60% of his products are distributed through women working in local markets, giving them an active role in spreading eco-friendly solutions. Aware of the impact of disposable packaging in the food sector, Derrick also co-founded SPEX (Smartpack Exchange), a reusable food container system that has already attracted more than 4,600 users.

Winner of several international support programmes, Derrick has skillfully combined personal development, fundraising and social innovation to give his projects regional scope. His ambition: to expand DercolBags across West Africa and franchise the SPEX model.

Through his journey, Derrick embodies a strong conviction: entrepreneurship can be both a tool for protecting the environment and a driver of job creation and social inclusion.

Derrick is a member of the AGRINNOVATORS.org platform, developed under the FFM+ programme.

Derrick presented his company during Innovation Session n°18 organised by PAFO and COLEAD, aimed at showcasing innovations and successes of African farmer-led businesses and small and medium enterprises. You can access DercolBags Packaging’s Business Profile.

If this topic interests you, join the discussion on packaging in the Agrinnovators forum.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.