Fundacion Green Apple
Green Apple is a not-for-profit social enterprise based on the island of Tierra Bomba - 30 minutes from Cartagena, Colombia.
We are dedicated to implementing long-lasting change in the way waste and natural resources are managed by the hospitality industry in our city, while creating long-term, dignified employment opportunities for local people.
Impact
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Diverted over 400 tons of glass and food waste from landfill
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Set up the first glass recycling operations in Cartagena.
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Certified as a Negocio Verde & won the Tahona Society Social Impact Competition 2023
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Resulting in job opportunities for 16 people
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Working with 7 island businesses to replicate the model of self-sufficient management of waste
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Educated over 2,000 people across 45 businesses in how to recycle and reduce waste
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Converted tons of food waste into nutrient-rich compost. Composting instead of landfill reduces this waste´s carbon footprint by 98%!
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Delivered a glass art course to 10 people, with 6 women now running their own artisanal glass business from their own workshop at Blue Apple
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Those 6 women have sold over 6,000 products to businesses and individuals across Colombia
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Inspired over 40 businesses and 30,000 individuals to contribute to our fund and efforts
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Constructed our recycling centres using 6,823 empty bottles and 1,100 coconuts. And now setting up a new Industrial Glass Recycling centre for the city - opening in 2024.
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Sold and donated 100s of tons of glass sand for construction and sand blasting locally, reducing beach erosion, stimulating a local economy and reducing the supply chain carbon footprint.
Glass processing
Cartagena's ongly glass recycling centre
Glass is heavy, making it expensive to transport to recycling centres. It also has a low value, so is unappealing to recycling businesses.
At Green Apple, we crush glass bottles into sand which can be used for building, landscaping and décor. The small profit margin is sufficient to pay living wages to people collecting the glass and operating the machines.
In 2024, we will be scaling up to open a new glass recycling centre close to Cartagena's Old City. More on that soon!
Artesenal Glass Products
The circular economy in action
Not all glass is crushed. Since 2018, we have been working with a small group of female artisans from Bocachica village who have learned to craft glassware, lamps and souvenirs from discarded bottles.
Through our programme, they learn not only the skills of their trade, but about product design, budgeting and marketing. In 2023 we opened a permanent workshop.
Waste Collection
Sign up for regular collection of your glass, food waste, paper, metal or used oil from as little as 300,000 pesos (business) a month.
This service is available in the central Cartagena neighbourhoods. Contact us.
Waste consultancy
Helping businesses to reduce their waste
We provide managerial and staff training on everything from waste separation and internal waste processing, to implementing company wide zero waste initiatives.
We specialise in hospitality businesses (bars, hotels, beach clubs and restaurants) and work with companies at any stage of their development to implement systems that are long-lasting and effective. Businesses typically reduce their landfill waste by over 50% and some by as much as 80%.
Organic waste and kitchen garden
Regeneration on the island
Green Apple has created a composting system at Blue Apple Beach and built a small kitchen garden. The garden is an education tool for staff and sends organic, healthy produce to the hotel's kitchen.
Our future plans are to expand this side of the business, eventually scaling up organic collections, compost production and creating a regenerative micro-farm.
Supporting businesses
Green Apple was founded by Blue Apple Beach, but now serves several local businesses who are choosing to do things the right way.
If you're living in or visiting Cartagena or the islands, you can eat and drink in these establishments and enjoy some guilt free hospitality.
