A glimpse behind the scenes of social entrepreneurship: ECO HUSTLE

Eco Hustle

“The world is full of ideas, just take action.” Lalita Purbhoo Junggee

ECO HUSTLE is a social enterprise with two eco-friendly brands; Sakili and Recycle Moi, focused on reducing two types of pollution: advertising pollution and pollution of sanitary pads. Sakili is an innovative concept which is helping the advertising industry in Mauritius reduce its non-biodegradable solid waste. Since 2017, tons of advertising trash have been recycled into over 200,000 products, ranging from shopping bags to backpacks. 

Recycle Moi is the first natural and 100% biodegradable sanitary pad in Mauritius. Hygienic waste is a real problem across the world as most of the pads are made of 90% plastic, which is non-biodegradable, causing tons of waste. Recycle Moi pads take 12 to 18 months to biodegrade and are chemical free, toxin free, and do not cause rashes, irritations, or other risks to women’s health.

Based on these environmental issues, ECO HUSTLE’s aim is to offer people the possibility of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle while actively protecting the environment and creating jobs.


Selected to participate in Trampoline’s Impact Accelerator Programme in January 2022, ECO HUSTLE was founded by Lalita Purbhoo Junggee in 2019. After completing the programme, Lalita is glad to share her insight about the programme and how her social enterprise has evolved during these months.

You have successfully completed Trampoline’s Impact Accelerator Programme. Was your journey what you expected so far?

I have had an amazing journey with Trampoline, together with my mentors and board of advisors. We have been able to overcome all of the challenges that I was facing when I started the journey. This includes brand visibility, brand awareness, cash-flow, legal contracts for my staff, and company culture, just to mention a few. 

How did the Impact Accelerator Programme help you?

Regardless of their size, all businesses must have a solid structure. After having participated in the Impact Accelerator Programme, my business is today well structured, despite it being a small one. I feel more confident in my ability to broaden our product offering, submit larger project proposals, and target the regional market. We now have a healthy cash flow, which is crucial for any business. We have an organic traffic of new customers regularly and I feel more confident to invest more in both brands today. 

How did your mentors and advisors help in the journey?

My mentors and advisors have supported me unconditionally throughout my journey! They have guided me through every step that has led me to where I stand today. They have been brutally honest, which was not always a pleasant experience but essential to achieve growth. They have connected me with other people in their network. I can say that they spared no effort and worked relentlessly to ensure that things were moving in the right direction and that the company was getting cheques at the end of the day. 

How is your new project different from what you started with?

When I started with Trampoline’s Impact Accelerator Programme, Mauritius was still under strict sanitary conditions. I barely had funds in the bank to sustain the business. I was unsure if I should continue doing it, but with Trampoline, “a little push” really goes a long way! I have been able to turn all the odds into opportunities. It has been an amazing journey, and the learning curve has been phenomenal. 

What would you say to young social entrepreneurs who also want to launch their enterprise?

To all the young (and not so young) social entrepreneurs, I want to say that the world is full of ideas. All you need to do is take action. There are so many opportunities out there that can help you to bring your ideas into reality. Trampoline is one of these opportunities that can help you to develop your ideas, accelerate your impact and grow your brand. Take the first step on the existing and challenging road to social entrepreneurship, and you will find ways to jump over the hurdles. 

 

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