Adeola Goodness Ogunkoya is a trailblazer in the world of sustainability and upcycling, reshaping how we perceive waste. As the founder and creative producer of Eco Haven, she has turned discarded tyres, plastics, corks, and other materials into eco-friendly, functional furniture and decor. Her journey began in a community where the cycle of violence deeply affected her. Witnessing the misuse of discarded items, particularly tyres, Adeola transformed her personal trauma into a powerful mission creating value from what others deemed waste.

At Eco Haven, Adeola not only crafts sustainable products but also educates communities, empowering women, youth, and underprivileged individuals with the skills to turn trash into treasure. With a focus on environmental and economic sustainability, her work directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, striving for a cleaner, greener future.

Through innovative upcycling techniques, Eco Haven has fostered a culture of waste management, created job opportunities, and made sustainable living accessible to all. Adeola’s unique approach blends creativity, social impact, and a commitment to reshaping the world one upcycled product at a time.

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1. Can you introduce yourself and share how you got started in upcycling waste into furniture and decor? 

Growing up in a community plagued by jungle justice, I witnessed a troubling cycle of violence and injustice that became the order of the day over a miscreant caught in the very act by other miscreants and of course, we all know the basic weapon for this gruesome act of jungle justice?, TYRES!! Some of us will remember the tragic and sad injustice that was meted out to “The Four Aluu Boys” some years ago?, For me, it didn’t matter who or what you have done, no one deserves to die in such inhumane manner, Nobody Holy pass!!

Now, the reason innocent tools like “Tyres” find themselves in the hands of lawless killers and become instruments of harm is probably because they were stacked somewhere at the backyard of their owners who changed their car tyres or maybe on the road side, dump sites without having an inkling of the negative effect. I believe we all can relate.

You see, that sad incident deeply scarred me, leaving a lasting psychological impact. But, over time, I realized that the pain I carried could be upcycled into a purpose, you know what they say about finding opportunities from your problems. This became the foundation for my journey into sustainability, waste management, recycling/ upcycling(waste to wealth, trash to treasure and beauty from the bin).

My name is Adeola Goodness Ogunkoya, I am a game changer and I sell sustainability as the founder and creative producer at Eco Haven, a Waste Management/ Sustainability/ Recycling/ Upcycling/ Products and Service Company.

At Eco Haven, we transform waste like tyres, plastics, wine corks, foams, fibers, etc into, simple,  durable, aesthetic, eco-friendly ottoman furniture, fittings, and decor. Our services includes waste management solutions, training programs on upcycling, sustainability education and empowerment initiatives for underprivileged women, youth and communities to promote environmental and economic sustainability.

We are a brand keen on sustainability and our work supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 17 by reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, improving sanitation, creating jobs, reducing landfill waste and fostering sustainable communities.

2. What inspired you to focus on materials like tyres, plastics, and corks for your upcycling projects? 

Discarded tyres, plastics, and other waste materials were a common sight in my environment stacked in backyards, dumped on roadsides, or abandoned at waste sites. Beyond their contribution to environmental pollution, these materials often found their way into harmful practices. However, I saw potential in them. In my community, where many couldn’t afford basic furniture, these discarded materials became the building blocks for change.

Driven by the need to create value from waste, I began educating and empowering others to upcycle these materials into functional, beautiful products. This initiative didn’t just provide affordable solutions; it raised awareness about waste management, reduced pollution,  introduced Tyre Rescue Initiative – A solution to remove unsafe and expired tyres that are no longer road worthy but being resold by greedy automobile sellers from circulation in order to prevent unforeseen accidents and saving lives, and also improved public health by curbing the spread of diseases caused by waste-borne pests.

This vision led to the birth of Eco Haven, a brand dedicated to sustainability, upcycling, and creating economic opportunities.

My professional journey has centered on redefining waste as a resource. Through innovative upcycling techniques, I’ve empowered underprivileged women, youths, and unemployed individuals with the skills to turn waste into wealth, creating a ripple effect of positive change in their lives and communities.

3. Can you walk us through the process of turning waste materials into furniture or decorative items? 

For every 3 to 5 walking and driving distance, you will find abandoned tyres, plastics and the likes on the streets and even road sides, so we mainly collect these wastes from the streets and road sides. We also walk up to vulcanizers to pick some of these tyres, there are days we do house to house collection as well, where we get the opportunity to create awareness and educate people on the need for zero waste and proper waste management culture and how their wastes can be transformed into functional piece.

Preparation and Process:

Collection and Sorting: Raw materials are collected and sorted according to types and quality. This step involves removing contaminants and categorizing materials based on their intended use.

Cleaning and Pre-processing: Materials are cleaned and pre-processed to remove impurities, ensuring they are ready for further processing.

Cutting and Shaping: Materials are cut and shaped into desired forms and sizes using the right equipment to fit into the shapes and sizes of the pro dominant raw materials like tyres and plastics to form the ottoman bases and other decorative items.

Assembling: Components are assembled into finished products. This may involve sewing, screwing, taping, upholstery or adhesive processes depending on the product type.

Finishing: Products are painted, polished, or otherwise finished to enhance their appearance and durability. This step includes applying protective coatings or eco-friendly finishes.

Quality Control: Finished products undergo rigorous quality control checks to ensure they meet Eco Haven’s standards for craftsmanship and sustainability.

4. What challenges do you face in sourcing and transforming waste materials, and how do you overcome them? 

Because sourcing for these raw materials is like a practical field work( I mean picking the wastes on the roads and streets), buying tyres especially, is a defeat to the purpose of the whole idea our solution brings. In recent times, we have come to realize by virtue of our interactions with vulcanizers, mechanics and the likes, that they resell tyres that are no longer road worthy and safe, especially after car users exchange their tyres in their shops and just leave it with them. Out of greed, they resell these tyres at cheaper prices to greedy buyers like themselves because those tyres still appear firm and strong without any dent or damage even though the expiration date is clear on the tyres. This is one of the major reasons for some accidents that happen on the road but could have been avoided. This became a troubling challenge to us and made us resort to buying them off from them and that became a solution we call “Rescue Tyre Initiative”

Another challenge we encounter is the “people problem”. By that I mean working with the right artisans especially in sawmills, their unprofessionalism to customer relationship, no regard for time and not keep to their own side of the bargain amongst others is like having a first hand experience of hell here on earth, it is a devastating, chronic, displeasing experience. Managing these set of people has helped me appreciate GOD ALMIGHTY better, I can’t even imagine the kind of work GOD is doing up there!!

Somehow these problems challenged me to expand my knowledge on some things, I was forced to go back to my mathematics especially “Geometry” because we deal with circles a lot, tyres are circular by shape and everything we do about them are always in circles and curves. I have learnt and trained myself to use machines that cut woods, drill holes, etc. Now I have my hands on some of these machines, I use them back in my workshop, I have trained some of my staff on how to use and handle them and that has saved me a lot of embarrassment and having to deal with the headaches from the sawmill artisans( at least majority of them, as I still work with few who have the fear of GOD in their hearts).

I have learnt in life that you are your only barrier and that you can do exactly what you want and achieve just anything if you don’t limit yourself. Thank GOD for the good use of the internet and other applications that has enabled me to learn on the go and “self teach” myself. I am still learning, unlearning and relearning.

5. Which of your upcycled creations has been the most popular or impactful, and why do you think it resonated with people? 

All our products are beautiful and yet simple. I can you tell you for free that there is no product of ours that has not resonated with our customers. I kid you not because if you see them for yourself, you will know what I’m talking about. We’ve had a lot of people tell us that they see people do what I do but something is different about our product and it is in how the uniqueness of our products proposes value and find beautiful expressions in the hearts of our customers through our best practices. Some of these unique values includes how we blend creativity and sustainability with social impacts, transparency and Authenticity, Personalized and Customized Services, Innovative and unique product offerings( such as indiginity, revamping services and purchasing satisfaction), high quality craftsmanship, exceptional Customer Education.

6. How does your work contribute to promoting the circular economy and reducing environmental waste? 

Like I said earlier that our brand is keen on sustainability, upcycling, and creating economic opportunities. Aside the fact that one of the business model we operate on is the “circular and sustainable economy model”, our impacts contributes to:

Firstly, saving the earth, animals, and humanity, by reducing pollution challenges of all kinds caused by unnecessary degradation from these non-biodegradable and municipal solid wastes, creating a safe; sane, clean, conducive and a healthy environment.

Because our products are eco-friendly, they are also pocket friendly ie you don’t have to break a bank to afford a simple, durable and beautiful furniture in your home or space. Therefore, so that every home can afford a chair.

For everyone who buys our products, they are directly or indirectly contributing to the goal of a sustainable environment which in turn has a positive ripple effect.

Through our ideas, we empower, sensitize and educate everyone around us to bring solutions to these heart aching problems of waste management and environmental pollution.

Tackling poverty and creating job opportunities for the underprivileged women, youths, young adults, and the unemployed in order to give them an enabling society and the capacity to work in their full potentials.

Partnering with foundations in picking policies that respect and protect the environment.

All of the above impacts of our work supports the UN SDGs 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 17.

7. In what ways have your upcycling projects created opportunities for job creation or skill development within your community?

Over time, we have partnered with NGOs and private companies in organizing workshop, awareness, empowerment and skill acquisition programs on waste management and the creativity of turning trash into treasure through the art of upholstery. Over the years, we have trained over 500 beneficiaries with 75% women and 25% youth and children, some of these beneficiaries have been supported with startup kits, tools and funding, some are now gainfully employed running their own waste businesses while some are employed as part of our team. The ripple effects of this is commendable and invaluable as these empowered beneficiaries are now empowering others and this is in turn, is contributing to the growth of the economy. This opportunity gives them a sense of belonging and responsibility, it allowed them discover the capacity of their full potential.

8. What role do you think education and awareness play in encouraging people to embrace upcycled products? 

Education and awareness play a crucial role in encouraging people to embrace upcycled products by:

Changing Perceptions: Many people see waste as useless. Education helps them understand the value and potential of upcycled materials.

Highlighting Environmental Impact: Awareness campaigns show how upcycling reduces landfill waste, conserves resources, and fights climate change, making eco-friendly choices more appealing.

Demonstrating Quality & Aesthetics: Educating consumers about the durability, functionality, and beauty of upcycled products helps overcome skepticism.

Driving Behavioral Change: When people understand the social and economic benefits such as job creation and poverty reduction, they become more willing to support upcycled goods.

Encouraging a Waste Management Culture: Teaching proper waste disposal and upcycling techniques fosters long-term sustainable habits in communities.

For Eco Haven, integrating education into our business model (workshops, awareness programs, and storytelling) has significantly boosted acceptance and demand for upcycled products.

9. Have you collaborated with other organizations or individuals to expand the reach of your upcycling initiatives? If so, could you share an example? 

Yes!! We have partnered and collaborated with quite a number of organizations and individuals who fall in our industry or niche or those who resonate with the value our services offer especially in terms or training and consultation. For examples, we have worked with NGOs to facilitate a skill acquisition program in Ogun and Lagos state where we facilitate and train on our skill of upcycling, in turning tyres to functional furniture products. We have worked with private foundations to help train their beneficiaries on the said skill around ikorodu and Ogba in Lagos state. We have helped build a mini museum of upcycled wastes for one of our partners still around ikorodu amongst many other collaborations.

10. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to turn waste into wealth through creative upcycling?

The question first is what value do you have and what solution are you bringing to the table? We know this industry is not yet saturated like other industries because of the bigger picture of the problem that is associated to the industry and untapped opportunities there is, more so we have less solution providers, we are just few. But of course, welcome to the industry if your solution is addressing one, two or even more of the problems and the people can resonate with the value your solution brings? What stands you out and how is your product going to tap into the untapped opportunities ( the market). Don’t just assume there is money in the industry and then, you carelessly find yourself there, be intentional about the value you bring and the people the value will meet their needs, so you don’t get frustrated.

Leverage on updating your knowledge and skills, what you knew yesterday might be obsolete today by the time you land in tomorrow, the world we are in is fast evolving, up-skill your game and stay updated, don’t be outdated and left behind. Be audacious, be tenacious, be resilient, be determined, be a problem solver, seek knowledge, do all of your bit like your life depends on it and of course Pray and leave the rest to GOD but do not quit, you are not done until you are finished, make sure you finish well!! Leave your work and your name on the lips of generations to come (let your present generation feel your impacts).

Do not procrastinate, stop the “i don’t know how to start” excuse, Start anyway and excuse your “excuse”. You might not know it now and you might be confused but the world is waiting for your manifestation, destinies are tied to you and you are unstoppable, just get on it, it won’t be rosy but don’t give in, just hang in there!! You’ve got global keys to global doors and you’ve got world solutions to world problems.

There are lots of opportunities to help you get started and scale, don’t undermine or underestimate them, please leverage and act fast on them, you never know!! Go to conferences, meet great people, listen to industry leaders, network with other people from other industries as well, apply for programs that will help your growth. Don’t let weaknesses like timidity, shyness or being an introvert get in the way of your rising, you better have a heart to heart talk with those nonsense to leave you alone for good and come out of your hiding, so that you will shine for the world to see!!

When you are faced with the storms of this industry, don’t be discouraged o, keep on moving and hello!! “Encourage yourself”. Are you not done with those ideas being a dream, c’mon be brave and bring them to fruition!!

Leverage on the good use of the internet and give yourself to learning, unlearning and relearning, have a teachable spirit. Challenge yourself to be better today than you were yesterday and be better tomorrow than you are today. Also dare to be different and unique at all cost. Don’t ever think that no one has got your type of idea, many entrepreneurs are surviving on existing ideas that are fine tuned because they work on it tirelessly and relentlessly to make it different and unique. Stand up and get to work!!