FREEE Recycle marks fifth anniversary with art exhibition, reiterates commitment to circular innovation
FREEE Recycle Limited, an integrated waste recycling and manufacturing company, has commemorated its fifth anniversary of advancing sustainability, innovation, and circular economy growth in Nigeria. The milestone event, held on October 7, 2025, in Lagos, highlighted the company’s journey over the past five years and reaffirmed its commitment to transforming waste into value and inspiring a culture of environmental responsibility across Africa.
The event, themed “From Waste to Heritage: Celebrating Five Years of Impact,” also featured the unveiling of an art exhibition showcasing works from its maiden Art Residency Programme; a five-week creative residency themed “Echoes of Reclamation: Rebuilding Heritage from Waste.” The residency trained artists from tertiary institutions across Nigeria to reimagine waste materials and create cultural value from discarded materials, representing a key step in FREEE Recycle’s mission to transform Nigeria’s waste landscape by merging artistic creativity with sustainable, circular solutions.
The exhibition, which featured sculptures and mixed-media installations crafted from recycled tyre rubber, also served a philanthropic purpose as the proceeds will go toward providing school sandals to children in underserved communities through the FREEE Impact Foundation, as well as extending the residency’s message of transformation from art spaces to classrooms across Nigeria.
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Speaking at the event, Ifedolapo Runsewe, managing director, FREEE Recycle Limited, reflected on the company’s journey and reiterated its long-term vision.
“At FREEE, our journey began five years ago with a simple belief — that waste could be transformed into value and creativity could drive sustainability. Recognizing that recycling alone wasn’t enough, we developed our Integrated Recycling and Manufacturing (IRM) model, a zero-waste system that turns every part of a tyre into something useful. Since then, we have recycled over 250,000 tyres, produced 660 metric tonnes of crumb rubber, and cut carbon emissions by more than 8,000 tonnes. Beyond these milestones, we have created jobs, built partnerships, and inspired change — extending our impact through initiatives like the FREEE Art Residency, where artists reimagine waste as a tool for expression and social transformation. As we look forward to five years, we remain driven by one commitment to continue transforming waste and inspiring futures. The next phase of FREEE’s journey will deepen our investments in innovation, community impact, and creative engagement — building a bridge between sustainability and culture that defines a new legacy for Africa,” Runsewe said.
Commending FREEE Recycle’s impact, Opeyemi Oriniowo, policy adviser, Economic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Officer, Netherlands Consulate in Lagos, highlighted the company’s role in advancing circular economy innovation and cross-sector collaboration in Nigeria.
“What we see here today is more than recycling — it is innovation, creativity, and purpose coming together. The amazing work that FREEE Recycling is doing, turning waste tyres into new products, shows what’s possible when vision meets collaboration. Earlier this year, we visited the facility in Ibadan as part of a broader scoping mission to understand what entrepreneurs across Nigeria are doing in this space. I can say confidently that FREEE has become a model — or as I like to joke, a bit of a poster child — for what’s possible when sustainability is treated not as a project but as a mindset. The real challenge before us is how we replicate this impact, how we create more of this — more FREEE Recycles across Nigeria, each creating jobs, driving change, and shaping the future,” he said.
Reflecting on the residency experience, Gift Akwajie, one of the participating artists, shared: “It was a truly wonderful experience”.
“Sustainability and climate change are causes that are very close to my heart, and being part of this residency allowed me to explore them through art in a meaningful way. I am deeply grateful to the faculty and to Mrs. Ifedolapo for giving us this opportunity — I would genuinely do it all over again.”
Beyond artistic expression, the residency program tackles a pressing environmental challenge. Nigeria currently generates at least 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, projected to rise to 107 million tonnes by 2050, while more than 1 billion waste tires are generated globally each year. The FREEE Art Residency programme demonstrates how creative innovation can transform waste into valuable cultural assets, offering practical solutions to Nigeria’s waste management challenges.
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The event brought together artists, industry leaders, environmental advocates, and notable figures committed to sustainability and cultural preservation. Notable attendees include: Temitope Runsewe, managing director, Sage Grey Finance; Adebisi Adeoti, managing director, Dow Chemicals; Olufunke Jones, divisional head of corporate banking, Providus Bank; Nelson Ofonedu, head, Treasury Michelin Nigeria/Team Member Sustainability, Sub-Saharan Africa; Aphrodija; Bode Walter Akinboye, group chief executive officer, Fortis Global HoldCo; Joseph Egbekun, head, Health, Safety and Environment, EFL Africa; Ajiboye Olusegun, a professor, among others.
Over the years, FREEE Recycle has remained steadfast in its mission to promote environmental sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment through strategic recycling and creative initiatives. Since commencing operations in Ibadan, Oyo State, the company has recycled over 250,000 end-of-life tyres, transforming them into valuable products such as interlocking tiles, paving bricks, rubber mats, flip-flops, and school sandals. Through its Integrated Recycling and Manufacturing (IRM) model, FREEE has diverted thousands of tonnes of waste from landfills while reducing carbon emissions by over 8,000 tonnes. Additionally, FREEE Recycle recently partnered with DeSpray Industries to establish the first aerosol recycling facility, a landmark project for sustainable packaging solutions. Additionally, the company collaborates with RUWES (Rural Women Empowerment Scheme) to distribute clean cooking fuel derived from recycled aerosol waste to rural and peri-urban communities. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in addressing energy poverty while promoting circular economy principles and gender inclusion.
Beyond industrial transformation, the company’s commitment to social impact is evident through initiatives such as the FREEE Impact Foundation, which has distributed eco-footwear, school uniforms, and learning materials to children across Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States.
