Kasandy Circular Economy Initiative
We turn textile waste
into jobs and products.
Canada's first full-stack textile circular economy hub. We collect post-consumer textiles from BC residents and businesses, shred and process them into acoustic bricks, playground surfaces, park furnishings, and more — creating inclusive employment for refugees, newcomers, and people with disabilities along the way.
WHAT KCEI MAKES
Discarded textiles become real products.
Every tonne of textile waste KCEI processes becomes a product with a commercial buyer — acoustic panels for offices, surfaces for playgrounds, furnishings for parks. ESG-aligned. Procurement-ready.
See all KCEI products →All three stories
in every product.
THE PROCESS
From discarded clothes to finished products — four steps.
WHO KCEI EMPLOYS
The green economy will include everyone. Or it won't work.
KCEI was designed from the ground up to employ people facing the greatest barriers to work in Canada's green economy. Trauma-informed workplace. Living wages. Career pathways.
2026–2028 PROGRAMME TARGETS
Where we're heading.
KCEI became fully operational in July 2024. These are our programme targets for 2026–2028 — what we are working toward. We will publish verified data as milestones are reached.
THE KASANDY FOUNDATION
KCEI is our flagship. The Foundation does more.
Jackee Kasandy built KCEI on the belief that sustainability and social justice are the same bet. The Foundation extends that belief to two more missions: funding girls' education in Canada and Kenya, and removing the financial barriers that keep willing families from adopting.
FLAGSHIP
KCEI · Circular Economy Initiative
Textile waste → products → inclusive jobs.
Canada's first full-stack hub. Endorsed by City of Vancouver.
GIRLS & WOMEN EDUCATION
Education that doesn't stop at borders.
Bursaries for Black girls and women in Canada. One Girl Can Foundation in Kenya. Equal in both countries.
PATHS TO HOME
Every child deserves a loving home.
Trust fund removing financial barriers for adoptive families. 100% of donations to the fund.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
Founded by Jackee Kasandy.
Built by a dedicated team.
Born and based in Vancouver with deep roots in Kenya, Jackee Kasandy built the Kasandy Foundation on the belief that nothing — and no one — should be wasted.
Together with Deress Asghedom, Nadine Umutoni, and Raphael Machalani, the team is turning that belief into action.
Meet the team →
Left to right: Deress Asghedom · Jackee Kasandy · Nadine Umutoni · Raphael Machalani
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS & FUNDERS
Become a funder →The organizations that back this work.
Federal grant funder. Active support for KCEI pilot infrastructure.
Federal grant funder. Clean innovation scale-up program.
Municipal endorsement. Zero Waste 2040 alignment.
Research MOU. Material testing, product R&D, ECUAD pilot host.
Kenya girls' education partner. Active program co-delivery.
Get Involved
Ready to work with KCEI?
Whether you're a municipality, a business with textile waste, or a funder — we want to hear from you.
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