Our story

CHAKO

CHAKO Zanzibar is a pioneering social enterprise near the Kidichi spice farms that brings together creativity, sustainability, and community empowerment. We transform waste materials into handcrafted products while creating meaningful employment and skills development opportunities for local communities.

Founded in 2012 by Suleiman and Anneloes, a Zanzibari-Dutch couple, CHAKO was inspired by two challenges on the island: growing waste from Zanzibar’s tourism industry and limited employment opportunities for many young people, particularly women. They recognised an opportunity to address both through a business that creates value from waste.

What began as a small initiative collecting discarded glass bottles has grown into a thriving social enterprise. By partnering with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars, CHAKO transforms waste materials into products that can be used, sold, and appreciated again.

Since its founding, more than 350 artisans have received training and skills development through CHAKO. Today, CHAKO welcomes visitors to its workshop, supplies its collections across Zanzibar and beyond, and continues to demonstrate how business can be a force for positive environmental and social change.

Our circular approach

Bottle Collection

The foundation of CHAKO’s work is our Bottle Collection Service, which is where we collect glass and plastic waste used for production. The partner network consists of local hospitality businesses, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars across Zanzibar. Through a small collection contribution, our partners ensure that their glass waste is responsibly managed and given a second life.

This service is the starting point of our circular economy business model. Together with our partners, we help reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Zanzibar. We also monitor the quantity and types of waste collected, allowing partners to better understand and communicate their environmental impact.

Interested in becoming a Bottle Collection Partner?

Please reach out to manager@chakozanzibar.com.

Our Products

All products

20 products

Forodhani Forodhani
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Forodhani
CHF 52.00
Carafe ‘Kitale’ Carafe ‘Kitale’
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Carafe ‘Kitale’
CHF 24.00
Nyota Nyota
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Nyota
CHF 54.00

Curious to experience Chako?

See our impact in action! Choose between a guided tour of our workshop or a hands-on experience where you can actively take part in the recycling and production process. Meet our artisans, learn how waste is transformed into valuable products, and discover our sustainability initiatives in Zanzibar.

Every paid tour helps fund free awareness tours for local schools and community groups. Tours can be combined with a visit to nearby spice farms, and transport can be arranged if needed.

After your visit, browse our boutique for unique handmade souvenirs crafted from recycled materials.

Our Tours

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Tours

2 products

Essential Tour Essential Tour
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Essential Tour
CHF 14.00
Artisan Workshop: Glass Making Artisan Workshop: Glass Making
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Artisan Workshop: Glass Making
CHF 17.00

Awareness Tours

Spread the knowledge! We think that the most effective way to create awareness and work together towards a cleaner Zanzibar is to educate the communities.

Your tour proceeds make it possible for us to invite schools, our partners and their staff members to visit our workshop and learn about sustainability. The awareness tour is designed to see, understand and experience yourself how up cycling works and which positive impacts it has for Zanzibar.

Awareness Tours

Our Fairtrade Principles

We proudly follow the Fairtrade principles, and are officially certified since 2018 as the first company on Zanzibar!

Our Quality Promise

Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort. We spend most of our time and energy for good design and to achieve high quality. Every single detail from material to technique is thought through with obsessive attention. If our product doesn't satisfy you, we'll take it back.