Five more companies receive Made In Mozambique label
File photo: Biomec
Marta Uetela, founder of Biomec (a Mozambican startup that manufactures comfortable and high-performance mechanical prostheses using recycled plastics collected from the sea), has advanced to the final stage of the PET Heroes 2024 innovation award.
The PET Heroes 2024 award recognizes influential individuals making a difference in the PET polymer industry, featuring startups, students, and organizations working to end plastic waste.
Biomec is one of the Mozambican startups fighting to prevent plastic from reaching the sea by recycling it to build prostheses. In addition to plastic waste, they have also used discarded fishing nets, in a critique of environmental pollution and the need for affordable prostheses. “We are closing the loop on plastic waste by turning it into something valuable: prosthetic limbs. This dual objective not only cleans our oceans but also provides a solution for people in need, especially in areas affected by landmines and conflicts,” said Marta Uetela, as quoted by Kabum Digital.
If she wins the award, Marta Uetela will gain access to a package including business training, networking opportunities, regenerative insights, and the possibility of receiving funding to develop her prototype, business idea, or venture.
The annual competition is in its second edition, and alongside Marta Uetela, there are 11 more finalists for the award, with both public voting and a jury composed of industry experts.
Through its work, BioMec has already produced over 700 prosthetic limbs for individuals in countries like Mozambique, South Africa, and Angola. For Marta Uetela, this work “has been incredibly rewarding” as it “has improved people’s lives in these communities,” she told adaPETation, the organization promoting PET Heroes.
The creation of BioMec occurred when a friend of Marta’s had difficulty accessing prostheses after a road accident. While participating in a campaign to collect plastic from the sea, the idea emerged to use it to solve this problem, combining it with 3D printing technology.
In the future, Biomec aims to be more than just a company, positioning itself as a movement that can inspire broader change, where waste can be seen as a resource, demonstrating that recycled plastics can be transformed into life-changing solutions.
In 2021, the Mozambican startup was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, through the Commonwealth, as the 193rd Commonwealth Point of Light – a daily award recognizing individual volunteers making a difference in their communities. This distinction focused on their work towards inclusion and self-esteem through the sustainable development of prostheses from recycled plastics.
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