Building Sustainable Manufacturing in Africa: Bamboo, Sanitation and Circular Supply Chains with Sander de Klerk

Episode 213 with Sander de Klerk, CEO and Founder of The Good Roll, a fast growing ecosystem reshaping the global paper industry through circular production, ethical sourcing, and socially inclusive solutions rooted in Africa.

Recently named EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, Sander is building far more than a sustainable consumer brand. What began as The Good Roll, producing tree friendly toilet paper from recycled paper, has evolved into a fully integrated value chain anchored in Ghana. At the heart of the model is bamboo pulp production, working with thousands of farmers and creating hundreds of jobs while supplying sustainable raw materials to producers across Africa and Europe.

Sander explains how The Good Roll is challenging traditional extractive trade models by retaining value at source and positioning Africa as a serious player in global manufacturing. From building production capacity in Ghana to connecting African processing with European markets, he shares the realities of scaling industry across continents. We explore why sanitation must be viewed not only as a public health issue but as a foundational economic priority, and how sustainability can move from being perceived as a cost to becoming a competitive growth strategy.

What We Discuss With Sander

• The future of Africa in global manufacturing and how circular production models can increase value retention on the continent.
• The commercial case for bamboo as a scalable industrial input in sustainable packaging and paper production.
• How sanitation infrastructure links directly to economic participation and workforce productivity.
• Designing impact driven businesses that balance ESG commitments with profitability and investor confidence.
• New financing pathways for African industrial ventures beyond traditional bank lending.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Africa Can Become a Global Remote Work Hub: AI, Employer of Record & The Future of Work? Make sure to check it out!

Connect with Terser:
LinkedIn – Terser Adamu
Instagram – unlockingafrica
Twitter (X) – @TerserAdamu

Connect with Sander:
LinkedIn – Sander de Klerk and Talenteum.com / The Good Roll | B Corp
Website –  thegoodroll.co.uk

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
info@etkgroup.co.uk