Greetings, Circular South Africa Community!
Updates from Circular South Africa | March 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.
As we look back on 2024, we celebrate the progress made in advancing the circular economy. Last year was filled with actvities driving collaboration, impact, and meaningful steps toward a circularity in South Africa. While these achievements are worth celebrating, our work is far from over!
In 2025, we’re building on this momentum by deepening circular economy knowledge across key resource-intensive sectors. Each month, we’ll spotlight a different sector—starting with mining in February and now shifting our focus to human settlements.
We encourage our community to stay engaged as we continue driving circular solutions forward!
CSA is proud to announce that since the launch of our Case Study Collection, it features more than 200+ circular economy initiatives across South Africa. This effort showcases real-world examples of circular practices that span across every province and key sector, demonstrating hat circularity is not just an idea—it’s a practical, scalable solution for South Africa.
We invite you to:
South Africa is making measurable strides in advancing the circular economy, and this collection underscores the potential for growth and impact.
CSA is committed to highlighting the impact of circular practices across South Africa through the #MyCircularStory Campaign. This initiative showcases the journeys of individuals and businesses driving the circular economy, linking to our circular case study database.
From grassroots innovators to industry leaders, these stories provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a circular economy. We invite you to share your experience and contribute to a growing network of circular solutions.
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 sustainable future.
|
We’re breaking down circular economy opportunities across key sectors—Mining, Human Settlements, Mobility, Energy, Agriculture, Water, and Manufacturing—through a series of illustrated insights.
The Challenge: South Africa exports 20%+ of its extracted resources for beneficiation abroad, losing economic value while deepening inequality. Our linear economy is extractive, wasteful, and inefficient—harming people, the economy, and the environment.
The Solution: A circular economy boosts resource efficiency, security, and resilience—cutting waste, reducing consumption, and unlocking new jobs and industries. It aligns with the Just Energy Transition, Green Transformation, ESG, and SDGs.
Become a member to access the illustrations on our Knowledge Hub.
Cape Town-based start-up Dragonfly has developed an AI-integrated material recovery system to enhance sorting efficiency at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Using advanced cameras and data analytics, the system identifies and classifies materials by type, shape, and colour, improving recovery rates while reducing landfill waste.
Operating on a pay-as-you-go model, the system ensures affordability, provides remote monitoring, automated reporting, and delivers real-time insights. In Cape Town and Stellenbosch, it has diverted 640 tonnes of waste annually, generated R400,000 in additional revenue, and reduced landfill waste by 22%-30%, saving R440,000 in disposal fees.
This innovation has improved operational efficiency, secured long-term jobs, and increased wages by 10%-15%.
South Africa’s growing waste challenge puts pressure on municipal facilities, but a circular economy offers solutions that improve waste management and create business opportunities.
At Creamer Media’s ‘Waste Management and the Circular Economy’ webinar on 26 February, panellists explored the challenges and opportunities of adopting circular practices. Facilitated by Chris Whyte from the African Circular Economy Network, discussions focused on business opportunities in waste management and the role of science, technology, and innovation in driving a circular economy that supports socioeconomic development.
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
Make a once-off or monthly donation. Every amount helps us stay independent, accessible, and growing.
Feeling generous? Donate on behalf of your business and we’ll spotlight your company as our Donor of the Month.
Share CSA with your networks, join the movement and connect us to orgs, individuals and companies
Note: All donations are eligible for a Section 18A certificate (tax deductible).
This section is restricted to Members.
Please fill in the following information to become a member (free of charge). Information will be reviewed and than made available to other CSA members. Once signed up you can update your information, contribute to the knowledge hub and events, and connect to other CSA members through their LinkedIn.
