Mimik PR
Four winners of the #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 have been awarded R15,000 each for their groundbreaking innovations at the South Africa Circular Economy Hotspot 2024 Conference. The Mission Network of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa (#cocreateSANL), in collaboration with the Craft and Design Institute (CDI), launched the Challenge earlier this year to drive positive change and foster circular economy solutions.
Out of 80 local innovators who participated in the Challenge, eight finalists were selected to pitch their ideas at the final stage of the competition. These finalists, representing a range of innovative approaches across different sectors, made their presentations on 19 September 2024 at the prestigious conference, where four exceptional projects were ultimately chosen as the winners.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Hélène Rekkers, Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, expressed her gratitude to the 80 participants and remarked on the high quality of proposals received: “We were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of fantastic ideas that were submitted for this year’s Challenge. These innovations have the potential to shape the future of sustainable design in South Africa and beyond. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winners, and my appreciation to all the participants who contributed to this important initiative.”
Erica Elk, CEO of the CDI, also praised the calibre of ideas presented during the competition: “We cannot simply recycle our way out of this crisis. The range of solutions that came forward highlights the importance of circular design in rethinking how we use and reuse materials, and rethink waste streams. The creativity and passion displayed by the participants are truly inspiring, and we are excited to see how these innovations will make an impact on local communities and the broader economy.”
“This is just a first step in the journey for these innovators and their solutions, and the CDI will continue to find ways to support these winners – as well as all the other participants in this programme. For us to impact on the challenges we face we need many more people thinking about and searching for solutions; and we need role-players in the public and private sector – people who are concerned about the environmental crisis – to support these innovations through their next stages.”The 2024 Challenge offered Cape Town innovators the chance to:
Learn about design thinking principles and circular economy methodologies,
Gain new perspectives on how to solve pressing environmental problems,
Network with other entrepreneurs and experts passionate about sustainability, and
Compete for four R15,000 seed funding awards to further develop their circular design innovations.
The winners were selected in four focal areas via an aggregated score from four Circular Design experts and an audience poll at the Conference. Workshops and mentorship for participants were provided by several local and international experts, including those from the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
2024’s #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 winners
Repair and Re-use category:
Winner: Baxolile Singata, Clean Care
Baxolile’s Clean Care offers eco-friendly, refillable detergent solutions designed to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable living. Their modular containers allow users to refill multiple cleaning products, eliminating the need for single-use plastics. By aligning with circular economy principles, Clean Care minimises environmental impact while providing safe, effective cleaning solutions. Their goal is to revolutionise the cleaning industry by offering innovative, eco-conscious alternatives that benefit both consumers and the planet.
Fashion and Textiles category:
Winner: Sivise Magqazolo, Fishtank Clothing
The EcoBlend Wear by Fishtank Clothing offers stylish, high-quality garments made from upcycled fabric offcuts, reducing textile waste and promoting sustainability. By transforming leftover materials into unique, multi-coloured designs, the collection aligns with circular economy principles, providing an eco-friendly alternative to fast fashion. With a focus on both individuality and environmental responsibility, the EcoThreads Collection delivers fashion-forward products that cater to the growing demand for ethical and sustainable clothing.
Organic Waste category:
Winner: Marnus Smith, Greenpop
Greenpop’s offering is a scalable, zero-waste event management solution that transforms human waste into valuable compost through innovative humanure systems, nature-based urinals, a blueprint and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for sustainable event practices, and a comprehensive communications strategy. They contribute to the circular economy by transforming human waste into nutrient-rich compost, diverting organic waste streams from landfill, and creating a closed-loop system that maximises resource efficiency and minimises environmental impact.
Consumer Education category:
Winner: Marlene Mostert, Metanoia
Metanoia addresses the plastic waste problem in underserved communities by creating meaningful resources such as desks, using a community-based collection model in under-resourced schools. This enables students to participate in sustainable practices by collecting household plastic waste, and get access to reimagined sustainable education through events and applied learning opportunities. Participating schools will be beneficiaries of these desks, reducing the resource gap circularly.
Building a sustainable future through Circular Design
Circular Design focuses on creating products and services that reduce waste and foster a sustainable future. With the joint goals of the Netherlands and South Africa to advance circular solutions, the 2024 Challenge underscored the importance of innovation in tackling today’s socio-economic and environmental challenges.
What amazing ideas are coming out of the youth. Imagine if we, as a country, could get on board, what a difference it could make to the future of our world.