Greetings, Circular South Africa Community!
Updates from Circular South Africa | May 2025
Circular South Africa (CSA) amplifies the potential of the just circular economy across South Africa by providing a central platform for collaboration and innovation. As the fastest-growing circular platform in the country, CSA supports circular initiatives, connects stakeholders with the right partners, and drives practical and meaningful impact. Our goal is to make circularity accessible and actionable, fostering partnerships and creating opportunities to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Since the launch of our website just over a year ago, our community has grown to over 200 members representing more than 20 sectors. In addition, we now feature over 220 case studies across provinces and sectors in South Africa. We extend our appreciation to each individual and organisation that has joined us on this journey. Your ongoing engagement plays a key role in advancing the transition toward a circular economy.
Want to contribute? Consider becoming a member or partner of Circular South Africa.
CSA is committed to highlighting the impact of circular practices across South Africa through the #MyCircularStory Campaign. This initiative showcases the journeys of grassroots innovators to industry leaders driving the circular economy in the country.
If you or your organisation are implementing circular practices, we would love to hear from you. Contact us to share your story and help inspire others on the path to a more regenerative future.
Join Circular South Africa on 22 May 2025 for the first Breaking Silos session: An interactive online networking event for the country’s circular economy community.
Designed to break silos and build bridges across sectors and industries, we’re providing an open space to:
Let’s build a more connected, collaborative circular economy community in South Africa!
Ever wonder what happens to solar panels after their 25–30 year lifespan? Or what materials make them up and how they are disposed?
Join this energy Lunch Club to explore how we can bring circular thinking into the renewable energy sector.
The session will feature Dr Frans Smit, Senior Lecturer at North-West University (NWU). He will be presenting on RenewBright by SolaGro: A Circular-Economy Framework for Refurbishing End-of-Life Solar Panels with Luminescent Down-Conversion Films. |
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The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Incentive Mapping project was launched to identify and disseminate comprehensive information on the incentives, accelerators, incubators, and related support programs available in South Africa for the WEEE recycling sector. This research seeks to strengthen the WEEE industry by spotlighting actionable support initiatives that stakeholders can utilize.
The project has identified a diverse array of support programs provided by government entities, private organizations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and international agencies. These programs encompass a variety of forms, including financial assistance, technical guidance, research opportunities, networking platforms, infrastructure development, and training resources. They cater to a wide range of beneficiaries, such as start-ups, individuals, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), non-profit organizations, corporations, and academic institutions.
The findings of the WEEE Incentive Mapping report, along with a comprehensive database of all identified support mechanisms, are available for download.
CSA will be attending the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), taking place in Brazil in May 2025, with online participation open to all.
Now in its ninth edition, WCEF is recognised as a key global platform for advancing circular economy dialogue and action. This year’s event will focus on the potential of tropical solutions for sustainable development, the role of the regenerative economy, and the strategies driving a bioeconomy—highlighting the critical contribution of the production sector in enabling the circular transition.
We look forward to engaging with global partners, sharing local insights, and contributing to the growing momentum behind circular economy solutions.
With waste management experts warning of limited landfill space in parts of the country, PETCO’s work has helped to save an area equivalent to 560 495 cubic metres and prevented 135 604 tonnes of potential carbon emissions. Despite challenges faced by the paper and packaging sector and restrictions on informal waste collectors during lockdown, 63% of PET packaging placed on the market by PETCO members was collected for recycling in 2021. This data reflects the importance of ongoing producer responsibility and the role of sector collaboration in advancing circular economy practices in South Africa. | Recent data from the PET Recycling Company (PETCO), South Africa’s longest-standing plastics producer responsibility organisation, indicates a notable recovery in PET plastic recycling rates following the impact of Covid-19 lockdown regulations. At its Annual General Meeting in June, PETCO reported that 2.1 billion PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles were diverted from landfill last year through its recycling initiatives. This achievement represents a 14% increase in post-consumer PET bottle collection—rising from 79 078 tonnes in 2020 to 90 402 tonnes in 2021 |
Would you like to share an upcoming event, initiative, news please or have general feedback on how we can improve our newsletter? Please email us at info@circularsouthafrica.co.za
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