Dr. Dorothy Nairne

In today's fast-paced and hygiene-conscious society, the pervasiveness of single-use plastics is undeniable. The production and disposal of plastic present a grave environmental threat, particularly in Louisiana, a region heavily reliant on oil and gas. Plastic production facilities frequently line the Mississippi River, impacting low-income African American communities grappling with health challenges like cancer.

I am Dr. Dorothy Nairne, residing with my family in Assumption Parish, which is an underserved, impoverished rural area situated within the infamous "cancer alley." This region is also known as the "sugar bowl" of the United States because of the rolling fields of sugarcane and the sugar mills, which result in towering piles of sugarcane waste known as bagasse. I established Delta Builds Enterprises seeking a solution to eradicating single-use plastics by harnessing bagasse, the fibrous residue remaining after sugarcane stalks are juiced. Bagasse offers a sustainable, eco-friendly, and abundantly available substitute that can be applied to single use plastic tableware. Delta Builds plans to establish a micro-factory dedicated to manufacturing cutlery, to-go cups, straws, and stirrers—all produced from bagasse.

Our commitment is to eliminate the entrenched poverty by providing employment opportunities for unemployed community members, especially those reentering society post-incarceration. Delta Builds' sustainable approach to plastic alternatives stands as a beacon of social, economic, racial and environmental justice, aligned with the aspirations of communities in pursuit of transformative progress.