CIRCULAR ECONOMY
CSIR LAUNCHES INITIAL FINDINGS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN SOUTH AFRICA The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched early findings: its ‘science, technology & innovation for a circular economy’ (STI4CE) project
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he report highlights findings on what a more circular economy could mean for South Africa in terms of much-needed social, economic and environmental opportunities. Releasing an introductory note and seven short think pieces, the CSIR aims to inform public and private sector responses on where immediate circular economy opportunities are achievable within the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors for human settlements and mobility, and crosscutting issues – energy and water. South Africa has a very linear, resourceextractive-based economy, with large throughputs of resources, predominantly inland extraction and manufacturing of goods; export of resources for further international beneficiation; little resource ‘investment’ in local stocks; and even smaller resource returns into the economy. This places the country at risk in terms of resource depletion or overexploitation, with the potential to directly disrupt the South African economy. At the same time, there is growing demand by industrialised countries to have access to finite resources. The South African government recognises the benefits that a transition to a more circular economy
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Municipal Focus
As outlined in the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, “The circular economy is recognised as a new source of growth for South Africa, together with other gamechanging developments such as the fourth industrial revolution could provide the country. Speaking after the launch of the STI4CE Circular Economy Project on 23 November 2021, Dr Henry Roman, Director for Environmental Services and Technologies at the Department of
Science and Innovation said a circular economy would create economic opportunities as new services and business models emerge, transforming the relationship between producer and consumer, and products and their users. As outlined in the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, “The circular economy is recognised as a new source of growth for South Africa, together with other gamechanging developments such as the fourth industrial revolution,” said Roman. The circular economy has largely been misinterpreted as a waste issue, often used interchangeably with waste recycling. “The circular economy is about so much more than waste management,” noted Prof. Linda
