FREEE Recycle Limited, a tyre waste recycling and rubber manufacturing company, and the Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES) Initiative Limited, a prominent women-led non-profit have partnered to distribute clean cooking fuel derived from recycled aerosol waste to rural and peri-urban communities.
The partnership is centered on distributing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) recovered from Nigeria’s first aerosol recycling plant, a project developed by FREEE Recycle and DeSpray Environmental, to women through RUWES’s established networks.
The partnership will focus on three core areas: the supply of affordable LPG, joint policy advocacy, and community capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing environmental stewardship and economic empowerment for women.
The model creates a sustainable circular economy that aligns with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Speaking on the collaboration, Ifedolapo Runsewe, Managing Director of FREEE Recycle, highlighted the company’s commitment to circular economy solutions that deliver tangible social impact.
Runsewe said, “At FREEE Recycle, we are driven by the conviction that waste can be transformed into real solutions for people and the planet. This partnership with RUWES allows us to close the loop, recovering gas from aerosol waste and redirecting it to meet the pressing energy needs of women and families in underserved communities. By combining innovation with inclusion, we are not only advancing a circular economy but also addressing energy poverty in a way that positions and empowers women as central actors in sustainable development.”
Mrs. Jumaima Ella, RUWES Head of Secretariat, speaking concerning the partnership, said, “I’m thrilled about our partnership with FREEE RECYCLE, as their goals align perfectly with ours. At Rural Women Energy Security RUWES Nigeria Ltd/Gte, we’re a self-help, women-led NGO with over two million members across Nigeria. We empower women to demand increased access to clean energy products through our innovative Gender Social Enterprise Model. This model makes clean energy more accessible, cost-effective, and appealing to rural women, fostering entrepreneurship and capacity building. By collaborating with FREEE RECYCLE, we’re advancing our shared vision of a sustainable future, bridging access gaps, and promoting energy security for women and families in underserved communities. Together, we’re growing people, businesses, and the nation.”
By integrating women as key stakeholders and beneficiaries in this new clean energy value chain, the FREEE Recycle-RUWES partnership is designed to deliver immediate social and economic impact, creating new opportunities, improving health outcomes, and building long-term environmental resilience.
