Joseph Nguthiru

Grateful to be named UN Young Champion of the Earth at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 🇺🇳 for our work at HyaPak @hyapakeco 💚 Massive thanks to UN Environment Programme @unep and @theofficialplaneta for the incredible collaboration and the joy of working on this over the last couple of months. I genuinely hope this award will have a significant impact in pushing the boundaries of sustainable solutions to pollution and invasive species to improve lives and livelihoods. Check out these brilliant change-makers: Noemi, @jinmody , @ambervalletta 🌟 None of this awesomeness would be possible without the entire HyaPak team, including our clients, partners, and friends✨ Shoutout to the family at Obama Foundation @obamafoundation and @theworldaround for making the NY Climate Week unforgettable 🫶 This specific award is dedicated to the tribe of curious minds that would rather beg for forgiveness than to beg for permission (without begging too often). Coffee and flowers owed to these remarkable people: @christopher.kemper @courtcrandall @theotherjwd , @mirandasgrant , @miafoster , @sens_ei @maxoklymenko , @fantiitas , @sameera_chukkapalli , @henuvictor , @txnvi , @louisedgmabulo @afroclimate We’re just getting started 🚀 God bless ❤️

Plastics. We can’t live with them, can’t live without them… it’s a tough relationship. That’s the challenge @hyapakeco is taking on. A mission that just took our Kenyan-born solution to the venerated hallways of United Nations in New York. The @unitednations celebrated 10 years of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 🎂🇺🇳 with the 10th Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Spotlighting 10 global innovations, and among them, HyaPak. Last week, I got to share our story. A journey of turning the invasive water hyacinth into sustainable packaging. Showcasing how we’re reducing plastic waste, restoring biodiversity, and combating climate change, while creating green jobs for local communities 💚 It was an honor to present our startup’s work among action-oriented, finest brains, and doers who are pushing science and tech for the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, ensuring no one is left behind. Huge gratitude to the phenomenal team at HyaPak whose passion made this possible. Grateful to our friends, supporters, the incredible UN team, and the amazing Secretary General's 10-member group for this platform. I hope we can spark more solutions that ripple out for a sustainable world 🌟 Lots of love. God bless! 🙌 @bennah_kama @sp_arks01 @annekatrinebuchvedstesen @gershon.mwau @sima_asia @anaminujin @brianaduggan @afroclimate @sue_nzisa @prototypesforhumanity @btomorrowventures @konzatechnopolis @egertonunikenya @nacosti @kenyainnovationagency

I met President @barackobama and King Charles III, and it wasn't quite what I had in mind; two titans, two paths, and one world of inspiration In a 5-month span this year, I've had the unique humbling opportunity to meet the two giants of our time. However, their personalities are not quite what you would have in mind from the kindergarten fairy tales of royalty. President Obama would have the Obama roll and fold his sleeves, lean in and talk to you like a dad or a coach would. King Charles III would have his arms folded at the back, listen in, nod his head and actively engage in the conversation. Their paths to power couldn't be more different, yet their dedication to a better future resonates deeply. Here are some nuggets from our encounters: From King Charles III: 1. A long-term vision for our planet: His passion for environmental protection, way before it was a trendy topic, shows the power of believing in your vision and staying the course. 2. The power of bridging divides: The King's focus on building bridges, fostering unity within the Commonwealth, and understanding across cultures and generations is inspiring. From President Obama: 1. Hope as a superpower: President Obama's unwavering belief in the power of positive change is contagious. He spoke of the importance of dreaming big and working tirelessly to make those dreams a reality, even when faced with immense challenges. 2. The fight for social justice: His lifelong commitment to equality and justice is inspiring. He spoke of the need to dismantle systemic barriers and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background. 3. The importance of effective communication: His ability to connect with people from all walks of life is unparalleled. He spoke of the importance of listening, empathizing, and communicating clearly and concisely. Meeting these two remarkable leaders still has me brimming with hope and inspiration. Reminded me that even the most powerful figures can be humble, adaptable, and driven by desire to make a difference❤🙏 Credits: @obamafoundation @valeriebjarrett #obama #kingcharles #royal #president #leadership #growth #value

How we wrapped up Local Hub 3… found our people and chose chaos 😂 #NairobiWestlandsLocalHub @bevisioneers

Les emballages du futur pourraient venir d’Afrique.

Another brilliant African innovation 🌍✨ 🇰🇪 Kenyan engineer @_nguthiru is creating plastic alternatives from water hyacinth that look and feel like plastic but naturally decompose. A powerful idea for tackling plastic waste across the continent. Do you think solutions like this should get more support? ⬇️ 🎤@zeebeezeezoo 📹 @oneyoungworld #OkayAfrica #JosephNguthiru

The most toxic relationship in your life isn’t with a person. ☢️ It’s single-use plastics. 🥤 We love it for being cheap and reliable, but it can pollute our planet for thousands of years. Our Ambassador @_nguthiru is changing this. How? In Kenya, where Joseph grew up, he saw how water hyacinth was destroying waterways and livelihoods. So he turned the problem into a solution through his start-up HyaPak. He is transforming this invasive plant into biodegradable packaging that is durable like plastic — without harming the planet. This creates: 🌍 cleaner waterways, 💼 green jobs for local communities, and 📦 sustainable alternatives. HyaPak is a reminder that young leaders like our Ambassador are creating a better future. If you think this sounds like a better future, it might be time to break up with single-use plastics in your life. 💔 Do you still use single-use plastics in your everyday life? #OneYoungWorld #CircularEconomy #ClimateAction #Sustainability #YoungLeaders

Our #YoungChamps last year were awarded in New York during the UN General Assembly and had the opportunity to pitch for a possible seed investment. The opportunity could be yours. Apply before 31 March: 🔗 Link in bio

@_nguthiru is part of a generation of #Futuremakers who are turning innovation into opportunity — proving that when young Africans have the right investments, they don’t just succeed. They transform the future. We must continue to spotlight our Futuremakers — and back them with policies and partnerships that match their ambition. Tag a Futuremaker you know in the comments. 👇🏽

On September 22, 2025, @theworldaround and the Climate Film Festival convened three members of the inaugural @youngclimateprize cohort—@alfonse.chiu , @pamela__ea , and Joseph Nguthiru (@_nguthiru )—for a conversation on how design, language, and storytelling shape contemporary climate action. Moderated by The World Around’s director of editorial and strategy, Dan Howarth (@dahowarth ), the panel discussion traced the evolution of the prize and the benefits it offers to the 25 under 25s chosen for each cycle. The speakers, who each originate from a different continent and work across a wide range of practices—from curatorial practice and systems design, to material innovation and community-led entrepreneurship—represented a cross-section of approaches to tackling the climate crisis, which has affected each of them differently. All three speakers reflected on how their work uniquely responds to specific local realities, while remaining deeply interconnected. Across the conversation, design emerged as a uniting method for building narratives, reshaping value systems, and fostering solidarity across generations. The panel formed part of the day-long Narrative Change Summit, organized by the @climatefilmfestnyc and hosted at the SVA Theater in Chelsea during Climate Week NYC. Read the transcript on The World Around’s new editorial platform, Insights. Link in bio 🔗

Our first real piece of content for Planet A shows what’s possible when you take 3 of the most inspiring UNEP Young Champions of the Earth to NYC for Climate Week and surprise one with the financial support to change the world. Please watch, follow and help us bring more stories like this to life. @unep @theofficialplaneta @_nguthiru @jinmody @ambervalletta @maxoklymenko @diamirzaofficial @mostlysane @tsaicity https://youtu.be/Rg87g26kDG8?si=WsF0HmaiNckmYLTp

Still processing what @hyapakeco at Climate Week NYC felt like. I’m honored to be a 2025 @unep Young Champion of the Earth, and to have my journey (and our cohort’s) documented by @theofficialplaneta . From the workshop to the big stages to the pitch moment, this particular week reminded me why we're building solutions to plastic pollution and invasive species 💚 Thank you to the superstars at @unep and @theofficialplaneta for the platform. And thank you to everyone who’s supported our work at HyaPak. 🎥 Visit @TheOfficialPlanetA on YouTube to see the full documentary! #YoungChamps #UNEP #PlanetA #PlanetAAward #GenerationRestoration ClimateWeekNYC | HyaPak | BanofiLeather | LÆRO | Climate Action | Climate Solutions | United Nations Environment Program | New York Climate Week | Generation Restoration @unitednations @jinmody @maxoklymenko @diamirzaofficial @mostlysane @christopher.kemper @courtcrandall @theotherjwd @sens_ei @obamafoundation @environmentyale @tsaicity