During a 2022 university field trip on Kenya’s Lake Naivasha, civil engineering student Joseph Nguthiru encountered firsthand the challenges posed by water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant that has long troubled the region. The dense mats of the plant clogged the boat’s engine, immobilizing it for five hours and underscoring the severity of the issue that local communities face daily.

Water hyacinth has proliferated in Kenya’s waterways since the late 1980s, forming thick layers on the water’s surface that hinder oxygen transfer and devastate aquatic ecosystems. Its rapid growth disrupts fishing activities, once a vital source of livelihood and nutrition in the area. Engines often must be switched off, with boats relying on poles to navigate through the thick vegetation.

The experience deeply affected Nguthiru, then a student at Egerton University specializing in water and environmental engineering. Motivated to find a practical solution, he collected samples of the water hyacinth and focused his final-year project on turning the invasive plant into a useful material. After several experiments, he succeeded in converting the water hyacinth into bioplastic—an environmentally friendly alternative aligned with Kenya’s ban on single-use plastics introduced in 2017.

Building on this success, Nguthiru founded HyaPak, a startup dedicated to manufacturing biodegradable packaging products from the water hyacinth. His innovation addresses both an environmental hazard and a growing demand for sustainable materials in Kenya and beyond.

Nguthiru’s work has gained significant recognition. He received the East Africa Youth for Climate Action Award and was named a Young Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environmental Programme. Additionally, he holds a leadership role with the Obama Foundation, and his achievements have been acknowledged by the Kenyan government with a Presidential Award for Best Innovator. He has also been listed among Africa’s 40 Under 40 emerging leaders.

Nguthiru’s initiative exemplifies how local challenges can inspire innovative solutions that contribute to environmental restoration and economic opportunity in affected communities.