Transitioning to a Circular Economy

RESEARCH PUBLICATION: Africa-EU Cooperation

South Africa

TOMA-Now has a holistic, systems-based approach to research that leads to actionable outcomes and interventions. Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative search, including web-based market research, stakeholder engagement and in-depth value chain analysis, gives insight into impactful strategic interventions This has the potential to unlock investment in green and circular industries.

The outcomes of the research conducted provides insight and recommendations for North-South collaboration that will drive a just transition.

South Africa plays a leading role in the promotion of the green economy agenda on the African Continent.  A green recovery post-Covid, that prioritises the Green Economy as one of the four sectors to assist with economic recovery, is envisioned, if not yet institutionalised.

The initial challenges faced concerning economic recovery in the wake of Covid-19 were focused on mitigating risks to livelihoods. However, as we navigate the economic recovery, National government is seeing the opportunity that the pandemic offers to pivot to a circular economy that is inclusive of economically marginalised population segments.

In South Africa, waste management presents an unmissable opportunity. Ongoing prioritisation of the plastics industry (see Plastics Pact, Plastics Colloquium) highlight opportunities for a CE transition that builds on the already well-established recycling industry. Expanding on anchor industries, such as the recycling industry, can ease a circular economy shift. This could have particular value for marginalised communities, who stand to benefit from the jobs created and the businesses established from waste recycling. This is being enabled by the newly gazetted 2020 National Waste Management Strategy that provides government policy and strategic interventions for the waste sector and is aligned and responsive to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The sectors identified as those with the most potential for CE and for EU-SA cooperation, are agriculture, plastics, mining and construction. The selection of these sectors is based on their relatively high contribution to GDP, an enabling national policy framework, and alignment with the EU’s circular economy action plan. 

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