Shine Shoes Co. Ltd transforms salon and barbershop hair waste into an eco-friendly black shoe cream — a sustainable alternative under the Shine Shoe Polish brand. Motto: Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten. A GIIH Cohort 3 venture.
- Cohort: GIIH Cohort 3
- Status: Active since 2023
- Product: Hair Waste Shoe Cream (75g black shoe polish)
- Pricing: 200 RWF cost · 300 RWF retail per unit
- Sector: Circular economy & consumer goods
About the business
Shine Shoes Co. Ltd. is an eco-friendly enterprise in Rwanda. The Hair Waste Shoe Cream project repurposes discarded hair from salons into a sustainable, innovative shoe care product.
The problem
Discarded hair waste from Rwanda’s salons and barbershops creates environmental and health risks:
- Slow release of soil nutrients (N, P, K and S) when hair decomposes in landfill
- Greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere
- Respiratory problems when hair waste is inhaled
The solution
Collect hair wastes from salons and barbershops, then recycle it into black shoe cream.
Methodology
- Hair waste collection — gather waste from different hair salons and barbershops
- Hair waste processing — process into fine black powder using a specialized autoclave machine
- Black shoe cream — blend powder with natural elements to produce the final product
Business model
Sustainable, efficient and affordable model:
- Production cost: 200 RWF per 75g unit
- Retail price: 300 RWF per bottle
- Margin: 100 RWF per unit (50% markup)
Target customers
- 100% of soldiers, police, DASSO and security guards (uniform shoe care)
- 77% of local community — men and women
- 25% of women and men who clean bags and leather accessories
Competitors
- Kiwi (Australia) — limited presence in Rwanda
- Kangaroo (Kenya) — medium-level competition
- AOKIE Shoe Cream (Nyarugenge) — local option
Uniqueness
- Affordable pricing at 300 RWF
- Multipurpose — shoes and leather bags
- Anti-dirt protective finish
- Environmentally friendly — made from recycled hair waste
Roadmap
- Product expansion — wider range of eco-friendly shoe care products
- Market expansion — reach new markets across Rwanda
- Salon collaboration — permanent partnerships with salons to streamline hair waste collection and strengthen community engagement
Team
- Emmanuel Niyibikora — CEO & Founder
- Mugisha Jean de Dieu — Chief Technology Officer
- Ikuzwe Florentine — General Secretary
- Tuyisenge Anne Marie — Advisor
- Dr. Manirere Jean D’amour — Mentor
