In today’s world, plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues we face. With an estimated 300 million tons of plastic waste generated annually, it’s clear that change is urgently needed. Plaveg, a Moroccan startup founded by Meryem El Badaoui, is on a mission to address this challenge by providing biodegradable and sustainable packaging solutions.
Meryem has been an entrepreneur for a few years, reflecting on her journey she shares that her motivation stems from a desire to create meaningful solutions to pressing global challenges, particularly environmental sustainability.
The turning point came from a deeply personal experience:
“The idea for Plaveg came to me after a heartbreaking incident on our family farm. A little sheep named Mina died because of plastic in her digestive system. That moment stayed with me. It made me realize the severity of the plastic problem and pushed me to research eco-friendly alternatives. I discovered that biodegradable plastics existed abroad but were not available in Morocco – and I decided to change that.”
Plaveg’s mission is clear: to reduce traditional plastic use and create a lasting impact on the environment. Their work goes beyond offering biodegradable solutions—it fosters a green culture by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.
Meryem explains how they measure their impact: “We focus on two key metrics: the volume of traditional plastic replaced by our solutions and the number of businesses adopting Plaveg’s packaging. Additionally, we track the reduction of CO2 emissions resulting from this transition.”
By providing eco-friendly solutions on demand, Plaveg is helping businesses reduce their environmental footprint while driving tangible, measurable change.
Like many entrepreneurs, Meryem faced challenges that tested her resolve.
“One of my biggest challenges was convincing my family to support my entrepreneurial journey instead of traditional employment. It was difficult at first, but over time, they became my biggest supporters”.
Moving from idea to reality brought its own hurdles: “Transitioning from ideation to actual implementation was challenging. I overcame this by joining incubators and support programs that provided essential guidance and resources. Another significant challenge was securing financial resources. I tackled this by pursuing grants and participating in competitions, including winning the Impact Beyond Borders prize.”
As one of the standout startups in the Impact Beyond Borders program, Plaveg earned the winning spot, securing an equity-free grant of 10,000 euros and a trip to Italy. For Meryem, the trip represents an opportunity to unlock new growth opportunities:
“I expect the trip to Italy to be a valuable opportunity for networking. It will allow me to connect with potential partners, investors and industry experts who share a commitment to sustainability. I hope this trip will open doors for further growth and innovation.”