Frederik Hornung

In Zambia, football plays an important role in young people’s lives. It’s a counterforce to school and work and can be a safe haven from some of the hardships of everyday life. Often, young footballers lack basic equipment, however. Shin guards, for instance. In Germany, Frederik and his team have founded a project — ZamBam Sports — that works to address this situation. The idea? Shin guards are made out of bamboo (for the hardcover) and biodegradable foam (for the cushioning). They can be easily produced; all you need are some common carpentry tools, and the resource demand is limited. Frederik aims to sell in Zambia and Germany at first, then expand to offer his guards as a viable alternative more widely. Along the way, he wants to inspire others to design and develop their own sustainable products.