Circular Economy in Africa
Joanna BinghamGhana Chapter Lead, African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)
Founder & CEO, Footprints Africa
African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)Vision Statement
Build restorative African economies that generate well-being
and prosperity inclusive of all its people through new forms
of economic production and consumption which maintain
and regenerate its environmental resources
ACEN, a Network of Networks
An Not-for-Profit organisation, registered in South Africa
ACEN aims at promoting the African Circular expertise
within its continent & from Africa to the Rest of the World
A network of in-country Chapters
Connected to international Circular Economy networks
ACEN Chapters in Africa
Senegal
Mali
Niger
Guinea Conakry
Burkina Faso
Cote d’Ivoire
Benin
Togo
Ghana
Nigeria
Cameroon
Dem. Rep. Congo
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Kenya
Uganda
Rwanda
Zambia
South Africa
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Namibia
La Réunion Island
Mauritius
Madagascar
Morocco
Algeria
Mauritania
29 countries
72 representatives
ACEN Chapters
Each Chapter represents one country
Chapters are composed of teams of experts (product designers,
waste management, urban developers, electronic waste, biomimicry,
etc.)
Each Chapter member signs the ACEN Charter on ethics
Chapter roles are:
to promote Circular Economy
to share Circular business cases & projects
A Circular Continent
SOUTH AFRICA• Sustainable heating – biomass burned for energy & fertiliser• Barloworld Equipment – repairing and refurbishing Caterpillar machinery parts
with manufacturer’s guarantee• Genius of Place Project – using biomimicry principles to clean grey water, storm
water and solid waste in informal settlements • Three facilitated industrial symbiosis programmes operating in Gauteng, KwaZulu
Natal and the Western Cape provinces• Agriprotein – nutrient recycling of organic waste via fly larvae to produce protein for
animal feed• ACA Threads – collects used thread cones from customers for re-use• The Clothing & Appliance Bank – creating micro-enterprises to sell clothes that can
no longer be sold by the retailer and repairing electrical appliances for re-sale to a second hand market
• African Reclaimers Association (WIEGO) – waste valorisation
GHANA• Suame / Kumasi vehicle
repair cluster of 12,000 firms and 200,000 workers
• Coliba – mobile app to manage and monetise waste
• AMP (Agbogbloshie Makerspace Platform) –creating value from e-waste
• Organic food on Katemfe leave
• Koko King 6 food redistributed to farmers for animal feed
• Environment 360 –cooperative waste valorization model
IVORY COAST• Lono – permaculture
where nutrients return to local farmers avoiding the use of expensive imported fertilisers
• AfDB is assisting to setup a plastic waste collection & recycling scheme that will employ 2,000 people
• Coliba – mobile app to manage and monetise waste
• Abidjan FabLab• Domaine Bini – eco-
tourism
RWANDAE-waste recycling facility which takes 15 types of electronic and electrical equipment dismantled and recycled. In first six months the facility had collected 120 tonnes of e-Waste and recycled 400 computers
NAMIBIA• Biomass – Collection to combat
bush and tree encroachment on 30 to 45 million hectares to use as biomass material
EGYPTUpFuse - upcycles plastic bags into fashionable accessories. It has recycled 50,000 plastic bags since 2013. Each UpFuse tote bag is made using 30 plastic bags.
ETHIOPIACo-ordinated approach to green growth based on economic development to achieve middle-income country status by 2025. Focus on agriculture, energy and water,
SENEGAL• Odissi - refill 10L
water bottle at mini-filtration stations in through existing retail networks in Dakar at 50% of the original price
• SeTIC, Proplast (Recuplast), Jokko Sante, E-Cover
• Thecogaz - bio industrial waste
MOROCCO• Tawafouk waste
valorization• SDDN – sustainabile
development road map• L’Orange Bleue – first
residential food garden shared between 100 families
BENIN• Songhai Farm uses
traditional permaculture farming where one resource is a nutrient for another plant cycle
• Les Jardins de l’Espoir – Agro-Bootcamp (Djouman)
UGANDA• Mazzi Can – see
Tanzania• Sugar industry
waste to energy• Solar based
products• Biogas• Waste water car
wash recycling
TANZANIA• Mazzi Can – durable plastic
container for milk to reduce cost and spoilage
• Government & World Bank water efficiency project for small-holder farms
• Dutch government provided assistance to municipal governments to improve waste management
ZIMBABWEBiomimicry at East Gate Shopping Mall that mimics a termite mount air cooling system
MAURITIUSBelle Verte - A closed-loop waste management system providing waste management solutions. Works with local artisans to create, market and sell upcycled waste materials;
KENYA• Eco Post – biomass and recycled
plastic to make plastic and lumber
• Well known for its 2nd hand clothing market
MOZAMBIQUERegenerative thinking qt Açucreira de Xinavane, Mozambique
ALGERIA• Large renewable energy
projects• Univlever strategy
SEVERAL COUNTRIES:
• Sustainability and/or environmental road maps
• Single use plastic ban• E-waste decrees• Green economy plans
CAMEROONKe;it Organic Charcoal – clean energy, safe cooking
ZAMBIALilongwe Composting Project (ICLEI)
NIGERIAHello Tractor –tractor services via SMS and mobile money
ANGOLAAmbiReciclo –recycled tires and cooking oils
ACEN Partners
ACEN collaborates with international & economic organisations: World
Economic Forum, European Union, ICLEI Africa
ACEN works with governments: the African Circular Economy Alliance
(Nigeria, Rwanda & South Africa)
ACEN supports research with its Academia Supporters Programme:
University of Cape Town, Institute of Development Studies UK, Sciences
Po Africa Leaders Campus, Johannesburg School of Economic and
Business Sciences
ACEN cooperates with Circular Networks globally: Circle Economy
Amsterdam, Brazil CE Network, UNIDO Uruguay and ICLEI Africa.
Research & Analysis
Training & Awareness
Learning Expeditions
Networking & Events
Knowledge Exchanges
ACEN Opportunities for Cooperation
www.ACEN.Africa
CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AFRICA
VISION: We want to live in an inclusive, regenerative world
On a MISSION to prove that business can be a force for good
What is the Circular What is the Circular What is the Circular What is the Circular
Economy Economy Economy Economy notnotnotnot????
#1 Recycling#1 Recycling#1 Recycling#1 Recycling
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
#1 Recycling#1 Recycling#1 Recycling#1 Recycling
CE Principles:
• Design out waste & pollution
• Keep materials cycling at their highest possible value
Value retained
Value leakage
#1 Recycling: Suame Magazine#1 Recycling: Suame Magazine#1 Recycling: Suame Magazine#1 Recycling: Suame Magazine
Repair & remanufacture
Employs ~200,000
Created a prototype vehicle
#2 Something new#2 Something new#2 Something new#2 Something new
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
Our finest technology is 5 billion Our finest technology is 5 billion Our finest technology is 5 billion Our finest technology is 5 billion
years oldyears oldyears oldyears old
There is next to no waste in natureThere is next to no waste in natureThere is next to no waste in natureThere is next to no waste in nature
#2 Something new#2 Something new#2 Something new#2 Something new
#2 Something New: Packaging#2 Something New: Packaging#2 Something New: Packaging#2 Something New: Packaging
Packaging: leaves, returnable glass
bottles
Farmers collect food waste for animal
feed
e.g. Koko King, Coca Cola, Guinness
#3 A Developed World thing#3 A Developed World thing#3 A Developed World thing#3 A Developed World thing
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
“Linear Lock“Linear Lock“Linear Lock“Linear Lock----in”:in”:in”:in”:
- Investment in infrastructureInvestment in infrastructureInvestment in infrastructureInvestment in infrastructure
- Policy & incentivesPolicy & incentivesPolicy & incentivesPolicy & incentives
- Unpriced externalitiesUnpriced externalitiesUnpriced externalitiesUnpriced externalities
LeapfrogLeapfrogLeapfrogLeapfrog
- Mobile money/ bankingMobile money/ bankingMobile money/ bankingMobile money/ banking
- Mobile phonesMobile phonesMobile phonesMobile phones
#3 Developed World#3 Developed World#3 Developed World#3 Developed World
#3 Developed thing: Safi Sana (AD)#3 Developed thing: Safi Sana (AD)#3 Developed thing: Safi Sana (AD)#3 Developed thing: Safi Sana (AD)
• Only 8% sewage safely treated in Ghana• Infrastructure: Sewage network has only 1,100 connections• $68bn economic loss of degraded soils in Africa annually
#4 Only for those with deep #4 Only for those with deep #4 Only for those with deep #4 Only for those with deep
pockets (expensive)pockets (expensive)pockets (expensive)pockets (expensive)
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
“The first and foremost rule of the game that needs “The first and foremost rule of the game that needs “The first and foremost rule of the game that needs “The first and foremost rule of the game that needs
to be changed is the shift from ‘ever lower costs’ to to be changed is the shift from ‘ever lower costs’ to to be changed is the shift from ‘ever lower costs’ to to be changed is the shift from ‘ever lower costs’ to
‘ever higher generation of value’ with what is locally ‘ever higher generation of value’ with what is locally ‘ever higher generation of value’ with what is locally ‘ever higher generation of value’ with what is locally
available”available”available”available”
Gunter Pauli, 2010Gunter Pauli, 2010Gunter Pauli, 2010Gunter Pauli, 2010
#4 Expensive#4 Expensive#4 Expensive#4 Expensive
#4 Expensive: GAYO#4 Expensive: GAYO#4 Expensive: GAYO#4 Expensive: GAYO
Green Africa Youth Organisation is
trialling:
� charcoal briquettes from waste
coconut husks
� community sorting centres
The key investments are relentless enthusiasm and passion
#5 A tech solution#5 A tech solution#5 A tech solution#5 A tech solution
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
Rather than expensive highRather than expensive highRather than expensive highRather than expensive high----tech solutions, use tech solutions, use tech solutions, use tech solutions, use
available resources in the local context, such as lowavailable resources in the local context, such as lowavailable resources in the local context, such as lowavailable resources in the local context, such as low----
cost labour, and cost labour, and cost labour, and cost labour, and simultaneously create a route out of simultaneously create a route out of simultaneously create a route out of simultaneously create a route out of
povertypovertypovertypoverty
#5 Tech#5 Tech#5 Tech#5 Tech
#5 Tech: RePATRN, Envt360#5 Tech: RePATRN, Envt360#5 Tech: RePATRN, Envt360#5 Tech: RePATRN, Envt360
Environment360 and RePATRN champion informal waste pickers
#6 A solo mission#6 A solo mission#6 A solo mission#6 A solo mission
What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy What is the Circular Economy notnotnotnot????
Principles:Principles:Principles:Principles:
• CollaborationCollaborationCollaborationCollaboration
• Leverage points to intervene in a systemLeverage points to intervene in a systemLeverage points to intervene in a systemLeverage points to intervene in a system
#6 Solo mission#6 Solo mission#6 Solo mission#6 Solo mission
“If you want to go fast, go alone“If you want to go fast, go alone“If you want to go fast, go alone“If you want to go fast, go alone
If you want to go far, go together”If you want to go far, go together”If you want to go far, go together”If you want to go far, go together”
African ProverbAfrican ProverbAfrican ProverbAfrican Proverb
#6 Solo Mission: Footprints, UNDP#6 Solo Mission: Footprints, UNDP#6 Solo Mission: Footprints, UNDP#6 Solo Mission: Footprints, UNDP
UNDP Ghana: Resource Recovery Platform
Footprints: Roadmap to Circularity
Source: A. Lemille
CONTACT US
WWW.FOOTPRINTSAFRICA.CO
On a MISSION to prove that business can be a force for good
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