Okolo
Location
Colombia
Programme
South America Accelerator Programme
in partnership with NESsT
Website
www.okolo.com.co
Okolo empowers families with eco-friendly reusable diapers for healthier babies and a cleaner planet
Single-use diapers are one of the biggest contributors to plastic waste globally: every minute more than 300,000 disposable diapers are incinerated, sent to landfills, and pollute the environment.
Founded in 2021 by two women passionate about reducing plastic waste in their lives and homes, Okolo is a Colombia-based enterprise that produces eco-friendly reusable diapers and promotes their environmental and health benefits.
Okolo has developed a washable diaper that can be used up to 1,000 times. In the business’s eight years of operation, it has saved over 40 billion liters of water, prevented the emission of over 116,000 tons of CO2, and stopped over 14,000 tons of disposable diapers from degrading soil, groundwater, and seas.
While traditional diapers contain harmful chemicals that can cause rashes and dermatitis, Okolo’s diapers feature a bamboo fiber inner layer, known for its hypoallergenic properties that are gentle on baby’s skin.
Conscious that the initial cost often prevents more people from opting to use reusable nappies, Okolo keeps product costs low by assembling its diapers locally, while supporting women textile workers over the age of 50. Of the 12,000 customers who use Okolo’s eco-friendly products, 80% are from Colombia's lowest income levels, benefitting from up to 80% savings compared to using disposable diaper costs.
Okolo’s women-led team also runs a Brand Ambassador programme to drive engagement and sales while providing flexible income opportunities to its community of women – many of whom are on maternity leave or caring for their children at home. To date, the programme has supported 300 mothers from low-income families to increase their earnings by up to 50%.
At Okolo, we lead with the conviction that every small action matters in building a sustainable future. Our mission is to support the empowerment of communities by offering solutions that improve their quality of life while caring for the environment. With NESsT’s support, we are amplifying our positive impact and proving that out-sized change is possible when innovation and social responsibility go hand in hand.
Programme support
With NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship’s support, the enterprise aims to reach 100,000 families in Colombia and internationally over the next three years. Key areas of focus include strategies to develop new products tailored to the Colombian market, deepen engagement with current customers and attract new customers, including marketing towards fathers.
Okolo is well positioned to harness the potential of the growing global trend toward environmental care and child health, and we look forward to joining them in their journey.
With NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship’s support, the enterprise aims to reach 100,000 families in Colombia and internationally over the next three years. Key areas of focus include strategies to develop new products tailored to the Colombian market, deepen engagement with current customers and attract new customers, including marketing towards fathers.
Okolo is well positioned to harness the potential of the growing global trend toward environmental care and child health, and we look forward to joining them in their journey.