Louisa Gathecha studied a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Marketing at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, building her early career in business development and market growth at East African Breweries and Pernod Ricard, where she developed deep familiarity with the beverage industry's supply chains.
Drawing on that experience, Gathecha co-founded Bottle Logistics East Africa, a company that recovers industrial and post-consumer glass waste and processes it into refined glass cullet, glass aggregate, and clean reusable bottles for brand owners across the region. Rather than chasing a trend, she responded to a visible environmental problem — discarded glass bottles that could be given a second life instead of ending up in landfill.
Under her leadership as Co-Founder and CEO, Bottle Logistics has recycled more than 66,400 tonnes of glass, created dozens of jobs along its value chain, and expanded its operations beyond Kenya into Tanzania. The company's model demonstrates that environmental protection and economic development do not need to compete, reducing pressure on natural resources and lowering emissions associated with manufacturing new glass.
- Co-founded Bottle Logistics East Africa, recycling over 66,400 tonnes of glass
- Winner of the Cartier Women's Initiative Africa regional award
- Expanded operations from Kenya into Tanzania
- Created dozens of jobs across the glass recycling value chain
- A visible environmental problem can be a genuine business opportunity.. Gathecha built a profitable enterprise directly around solving Kenya's discarded glass problem.
- Industry experience translates into entrepreneurial insight.. Her years in beverage industry business development gave her direct knowledge of the supply chains Bottle Logistics now serves.
- Environmental and economic goals can reinforce each other.. Her model shows sustainability and profitability need not be in tension.