Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, faces a growing waste problem, with the city’s municipality generating approximately 84,520 tonnes of waste annually. According to the 2022/2023 City of Windhoek Municipal Report, nearly 17 hectares of the landfill have already been filled.
In response to this mounting issue, Namibian entrepreneur Samueline Uapingene-Masule has turned to recycling old tires to create unique furniture and accessories. Uapingene-Masule founded Mbemuus’ Furniture Solutions in 2020, repurposing waste materials to promote environmental protection and reduce landfill waste.
“I take old tires and turn waste into treasure. My goal is to minimize environmental impact and encourage sustainable practices,” she explained in a recent interview.
The entrepreneur’s journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she developed a passion for decorating and honed her upholstery skills through online courses. The growing interest from her extended family in her designs led to the birth of her business.
What started as a side project in her garage quickly blossomed into a full-time venture after Uapingene-Masule lost her job as a flight attendant in 2021, following the national airline’s closure. Since then, she has expanded her product range to include custom-made seats, jewelry boxes, chopping boards, and headboards, all crafted from repurposed tires and featuring a variety of fabrics, including leather and velvet, chosen according to customer preferences.
Recycling is no simple task for the entrepreneur, who runs a workshop that involves collecting tires from local dumpsites, cleaning, designing, and manufacturing products. Uapingene-Masule obtains used tires free of charge from the Kupferberg Landfill Site, where she holds a permit from the City of Windhoek’s Solid Waste Management Department. Initially, she also sourced tires from car repair shops and repurposed pallets and other materials from local stores.
Since launching her business, Uapingene-Masule has upcycled more than 100 items from used tires, significantly reducing waste in the process.
Her business has expanded beyond Namibia’s borders. After moving to Eswatini in early 2022 with her husband, Uapingene-Masule continued her efforts there, receiving positive feedback from locals eager to embrace her innovative waste-recycling approach. During her time in Eswatini, she further developed her craft, enrolling in upholstery courses and completing a supplementary woodwork course in Cape Town, South Africa.
Her background in public management from the Namibia University of Science and Technology, alongside her travel experiences as a flight attendant, inspired her to pursue this entrepreneurial path, which blends sustainability and creativity.
Upon returning to Namibia in August 2023, Uapingene-Masule resumed operations and refocused on expanding her business. Her work, especially the multipurpose chairs made from tires, has gained increasing demand. These chairs not only serve as functional pieces of furniture but also offer storage space, thereby contributing to waste reduction.
The business’s growth has allowed Uapingene-Masule to create jobs, employing one full-time and two part-time workers. She reinvests the income generated back into the company, ensuring its continued growth.
However, challenges remain. Uapingene-Masule acknowledges the difficulties in changing perceptions around waste and recycling, as well as the gender stereotypes that often associate woodwork and upholstery with men.
“These obstacles drive me to ensure that my products are of the highest quality. This will lay the foundation for my business, not outdated gender roles,” she remarked.
Her future goals include expanding her customer base beyond Windhoek, training others in the craft, and creating a comprehensive training program to help others enter the field.
Moses Matyayi, CEO of the City of Windhoek, praised such initiatives, highlighting their vital role in improving waste management efforts and maintaining the city’s cleanliness. Matyayi stressed the importance of reusing, recycling, and regenerating waste to reduce environmental impacts, promote local employment, and generate income.
“Windhoek, as one of the largest waste-producing cities in Namibia, requires robust solutions to address this issue,” he concluded.
Meta Description: Namibian entrepreneur Samueline Uapingene-Masule transforms waste into innovative furniture, promoting sustainability and tackling environmental callenges in Windhoek.
Tags: Namibia, Windhoek, recycling, environmental protection, upcycling, entrepreneurship, sustainable business, tires, furniture, waste management, job creation, Eswatini, public management
