Sustainable Fuel: Shanty Town explores one local company’s green innovations
Shanty Town Spirit visited Sustainable
Green Fuel Enterprise (SGFE) to explore employment pathways for parents from
our program. SGFE currently employs former waste pickers and people from very
poor communities like those that Shanty Town Spirit supports, and pays them
above minimum wage with health insurance which is a must in Cambodia where
there is no social welfare system.
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| SGFE staff hand-pressing the eco-friendly brickettes |
SGFE cares for both the environment and the
community offering sustainable solutions for a cleaner more prosperous future. The
CEO, Carlo Figá Talamanca, strongly believes in fair pay and working
conditions. He spoke at length about providing a safe, consistent and happy
work environment for his employees.
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| Princess Ermine Norodom & her assistant Jessica Sander with CEO, Carlo Figá Talamanca. |
The company makes eco-friendly brickettes
and fire starters made from coconut shells offering a clean and cost-effective
sustainable fuel source as an alternative to coal and wood. People bring their
coconut waste to the factory and candle remnants are collected from the pagodas
which are used to extract the wax and combine it with the coconut mulch to
produce the fire starters.
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| Large furnesses transforming the coconut shells |
We were so impressed with the company’s
innovations. Their products have become so popular that they can’t keep up with
demand and we can understand why. Its great news for reducing unnecessary
fossil fuels and deforestation. Now SGFE is looking to expand their operations.
We wish them the best of luck! Words by
Jessica Sander
You can help these kids
by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program
Click on Make a difference
Or contact
Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)
Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)
20:08
Cambodia, environment, Ermine Norodom, green fuel, Phnom Penh, SGFE, Shanty Town Spirit, sustainability, sustainable fuel
