MitiMeth: Redefining Waste into New Luxury with Innov8 Hub as a Growth Catalyst
For over a decade, MitiMeth has been demonstrating that environmental challenges, when met with the right mindset and innovation, can become engines of economic empowerment. Founded in 2011, MitiMeth is an award-winning materials and artisan enterprise transforming invasive plants and agricultural waste into high-value products while creating sustainable livelihoods for women and youth across Nigeria.
Operating from Lekki, Lagos, and Ibadan, Oyo State, MitiMeth reclaims materials such as water hyacinth, banana fiber, coconut shells, and bamboo (resources often discarded or overlooked) and converts them into what the brand calls “New Luxury.” Its growing portfolio includes home textiles, lighting, rugs, mirrors, planters, dining ware, accent furniture, and fashion accessories.
From Waste Recovery Philosophy to Scalable Enterprise
The idea behind MitiMeth emerged from a deep immersion in waste recovery and utilization. What began as a moment of discovery (encountering water hyacinth choking Lagos waterways) quickly evolved into a structured response grounded in research, material innovation, and community engagement. MitiMeth became a tangible expression of the belief that waste, when thoughtfully reclaimed, can drive both environmental restoration and economic inclusion.
Today, the enterprise supports over 150 artisans, the vast majority of whom are women, through a decentralized production model that enables income generation within rural and riverine communities. This approach reduces distress migration, strengthens local economies, and promotes dignified work.
Innov8 Hub’s Role in Accelerating Impact and Production
While MitiMeth had already established itself as a mission-driven enterprise, its participation in Innov8 Hub’s iFAIR program marked a turning point in operational scale and efficiency.
Through iFAIR, Innov8 Hub provided targeted technical assistance and hands-on guidance that helped MitiMeth:
- Optimize its button manufacturing line, improving efficiency and consistency
- Adopt new tools and technologies to increase production throughput
- Explore new design techniques, expanding product variety, and market appeal
These interventions translated directly into measurable outcomes. Following the program, MitiMeth recorded a 3.1x growth in button production compared to 2023, driven by improved processes and rising market demand. Beyond production, the program also contributed to increased brand visibility, market reach, and overall operational confidence.
Driving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Practice
MitiMeth’s work contributes directly to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- No Poverty (SDG 1) through local livelihood creation.
- Climate Action and Life Below Water (SDGs 13 & 14) by harvesting invasive water hyacinth and reducing methane emissions.
- Gender Equality and Decent Work (SDGs 5 & 8) by prioritizing women artisans and financial inclusion.
- Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) through collaborations with organizations such as LASWA, FCMB, Tolaram Foundation, Co/rizom, UNDP, and others.
Scaling Impact Through the Right Ecosystem
MitiMeth’s journey illustrates how established impact enterprises can achieve new levels of scale and efficiency when supported by the right innovation ecosystem. Innov8 Hub’s iFAIR program provided the technical depth and growth-focused support needed to strengthen production systems and unlock new opportunities.
As MitiMeth continues to redefine waste as a resource and craftsmanship as a tool for climate action, its story stands as a powerful example of how innovation, impact, and industry can intersect—when nurtured by intentional incubation and partnership.