At 25, Sandra Abeka Mensah is redefining packaging leadership. From rural Ghana to a PRIME Award win, she’s turning plastic waste into opportunity. Packaging MEA’s Usha Benjamin interviews her on the journey, challenges, and success.
plastic waste into opportunity.
From a rural town in Ghana’s Ashanti Region to the global stage in Dubai, Sandra Abeka Mensah has built a remarkable journey. At just 25, she leads operations at the Cash IT Recycling Plant, part of the ASASE Foundation, and has been recognized with the Gold Award for Packaging Woman Personality of the Year at the PRIME Awards 2025.
We sat down with Sandra to explore her journey, her work in sustainable packaging, and her vision for a more inclusive and circular packaging economy.
Usha : Congratulations, Sandra. How does it feel to be recognized on such a prestigious platform?
Sandra: Thank you so much. To be honest, it still feels a bit surreal. I didn’t expect to be on a global stage, especially this early in my career. Winning the Packaging Woman Personality of the Year award means a lot, not just for me but for every young woman working in spaces that are often overlooked. It’s a message that what we do in local communities matters—that grassroots innovation is being noticed.
Usha: You grew up in a rural district in Ghana. How did you first become interested in waste management and packaging?
Sandra: Growing up, I saw plastic waste everywhere—gutters, roads, even farmland. There weren’t proper disposal systems, and most people didn’t see it as a serious issue. But for me, it was troubling. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship for ‘brilliant but needy’ students, which allowed me to study welding and fabrication at the Design and Technology Institute in Accra. During my internship at ASASE Foundation, I learned about plastic recycling, and that changed everything. I realized I could be part of solving a big problem that I had experienced firsthand.
Usha: From intern to Plant Supervisor—how did that transition happen?
Sandra: It was a mix of curiosity, persistence, and trust from my mentors. I started as an intern just helping with sorting plastics. But I kept asking questions—how the machines worked, what determined product quality, why downtime happened. Slowly, I got more responsibilities. Within a year, I was leading shifts. Then I was asked to supervise plant operations. It wasn’t always easy, but the team at ASASE saw my dedication and gave me the space to grow.
Usha: What’s a typical day for you at the plant?
Sandra: My day starts early. I check production schedules, inspect the machines, and review the output from previous shifts. We recycle tons of plastic waste, converting it into materials like pavement blocks. I oversee the sorting, washing, extrusion, and molding processes. Safety is a huge part of my job—I make sure everyone is using PPE and following protocol. We’ve implemented systems to reduce contamination and improve yield, which helped us hit a 90% uptime in 2024. I’m proud of that because it directly impacted our revenue and efficiency.
Usha: You led a project that turned recycled plastic into pavement blocks. How did that come about?
Sandra: It started with a question: what else can we do with this plastic waste? We had access to a lot of material, and I wanted to see if we could turn it into something more durable and visible. We reached out to a local construction company and experimented with mixes. After a few trials, we got a product strong enough for roads and footpaths. The pavement block project became a model for value-added recycling—and it helped reduce waste going to landfill. It’s functional, local, and circular.
Usha: You’ve also mentored women into leadership roles. Why is that important to you?
Sandra: Because I’ve lived the reality of limited options. Technical and industrial roles in Ghana, especially in recycling, are mostly held by men. I wanted to change that. I’ve trained over 30 women in plant operations, and four of them now hold supervisory roles. Empowering women isn’t just good for equality—it’s good for productivity. Women bring different problem-solving approaches and often build stronger team dynamics. I make it a priority to hire and promote based on potential, not just resumes.
Usha: What challenges have you faced as a woman in a male-dominated field?
Sandra: I’ve had to work harder to earn respect, especially when I was younger and new. Sometimes people assumed I was just helping out or didn’t have technical knowledge. But over time, consistent results speak for themselves. I also advocate for fair labor practices—equal pay, better conditions, and proper breaks. The more we normalize women in these roles, the less we’ll have to fight stereotypes.
Usha: Let’s talk about sustainability. How do you define responsible packaging from your perspective on the ground?
Sandra: For me, responsible packaging isn’t just about materials. It’s about the full cycle—how it’s produced, used, collected, and reused. We need to design packaging that makes sense for its use, and we need infrastructure that brings it back into the system. That’s what we do at ASASE: we close the loop by collecting from the community, processing locally, and feeding the materials back into new products. Packaging should add value, not pollution.
Usha: Your team recycled 2,400 tons of plastic waste in 2024. What made that possible?
Sandra: Two things: community and consistency. We run outreach programs in schools, churches, and markets to educate people on sorting and collection. That builds supply. Internally, we optimized processes—improved machinery upkeep, scheduled smarter shift rotations, and built local supplier relationships. We also track output closely, so we know what’s working. And honestly, we just show up every day with purpose. When people see you care, they care too.
Usha: Beyond the plant, how else are you involved in community development?
Sandra: I work with ASASE to create social enterprises that give value to plastic waste. We help communities understand that this “trash” can be turned into cash and jobs. We’ve supported collection hubs, offered micro-grants, and created training modules. My dream is to scale this model to other districts—especially those that don’t have waste infrastructure. Empowerment is at the center of everything we do.
Usha: What’s next for you professionally?
Sandra: I’m focused on strengthening the systems we already have—improving recycling processes, optimizing operations, and creating better conditions for our workers. A big part of my work is mentoring women and opening doors for them to take on leadership roles. I want to continue building on that by expanding training and community engagement, especially in areas where access to opportunities is still limited.
Usha: Finally, what advice would you give to young women reading this who might be interested in packaging or sustainability careers?
Sandra: Don’t wait until everything feels perfect. You’ll never feel completely ready. Say yes to the opportunity, then figure it out step by step. Ask questions. Build your network. And when people tell you you’re “too young” or “not technical,” remember that every expert started as a beginner. Your voice and your vision are needed now more than ever.
“Women bring different problem-solving approaches and often build stronger team dynamics.” – Sandra Abeka Mensah, Plant Supervisor, Asase Foundation.
Sandra Abeka Mensah’s story is more than a personal success—it’s a roadmap for what inclusive, sustainable packaging leadership can look like. Her work through the ASASE Foundation proves that with local action and global recognition, the packaging industry can evolve into something smarter, cleaner, and more equitable.