Event report
Roundtable: Circularity for Growth and Sustainability
A dynamic exchange with Decathlon, Roam and Gaia Impact on how circular economy initiatives are driving sustainable development.
Last Friday we were privileged to host a roundtable on Circularity for Growth and Sustainability at 3ZERO House Kenya. The session was kicked off by our Director Domitille Guilloton who gave insights into environmental and economic benefits of the circular model.
Key takeaways from our speakers Hélène Demaegdt, CEO and Founder at Gaia Impact, Vivian Cherotich, Sustainability Manager at DECATHLON Kenya and Habib Lukaya, Regional Sales Operations Manager at Roam Electric included:
Decathlon Kenya is tackling affordability and sustainability through its Second Life Initiative, making quality products more accessible while promoting repair and reuse. “Circularity is solving two problems at once, providing affordable options and keeping products in use longer through workshops and repair services.”
Roam is one of Kenya’s fastest-growing companies, driving the shift to e-mobility. This transition goes beyond transport, it improves air quality and public health, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, supports infrastructure development and creates green jobs.
Gaia Impact is investing in decentralized renewable energy to promote a just energy transition. “For us, circularity means long-term impact; social, environmental, and economic, not just financial return.”
On green jobs and local development:
Decathlon Kenya sees circularity opening doors to hands-on jobs and skills in quality control, while also creating local revenue streams through partnerships.
Roam is building a robust training and skills pipeline to support new roles in Kenya’s evolving e-mobility sector.
Gaia Impact reminds us that social and environmental impact are fundamental considerations; the economy should not be assessed purely from a financial perspective.
But challenges remain:
For Decathlon, shifting mindsets and pricing vs. informal markets remain hurdles.
Roam calls for stronger public-private collaboration, policy support, and infrastructure investment.
Gaia highlights funding and tech-infrastructure gaps and works to bridge them through partnerships.
Broader communication, more events and deeper inclusion of young people and women are key. “This is where partnerships truly matter.”
A big thank you to our speakers for their invaluable insights and to the participants for engaging during the session.
