Cameroon's Papylon wins Mastercard grant to build circular fashion system
What's the deal? Papylon, a Cameroon-based startup, has secured a grant from Mastercard to develop a circular fashion system in the country. The initiative aims to tackle textile waste by creating infrastructure for recycling, reusing, and repurposing clothing and fabrics across Cameroon.
Why now? Africa's textile waste problem is growing as the continent receives increasing volumes of secondhand clothing from the Global North. Circular economy models — where materials are kept in use rather than discarded — are gaining traction as a practical response to both environmental and economic pressures on the continent.
The signal: The grant reflects a broader push by global payment and fintech companies to back sustainability-focused ventures in emerging markets. It also signals growing investor and corporate interest in African startups that sit at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and local manufacturing — a space that could unlock job creation alongside environmental impact.
Read more: magazine.thenextafrica.com
