Research Publications/Outputs

Permanent URI for this community

http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11481

Browse

Browsing Research Publications/Outputs by browse.metadata.cluster "Hosted National Programmes"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Circular Economy as Development Opportunity: Exploring Circular Economy Opportunities across South Africa’s Economic Sectors
    (CSIR, 2021-12) Godfrey, Linda K; Nahman, Anton; Oelofse, Suzanna HH; Trotter, Douglas; Khan, Sumaya; Nontso, Zintle; Magweregwede, Fleckson; Sereme, Busisiwe V; Okole, Blessed N; Gordon, Gregory ER; Brown, Bernadette; Pillay, Boyse; Schoeman, Chanel; Fazluddin, Shahed; Ojijo, Vincent O; Cooper, Antony K; Kruger, Daniel M; Napier, Mark; Mokoena, Refiloe; Steenkamp, Anton J; Msimanga, Xolile P; North, Brian C; Seetal, Ashwin R; Mathye, Salamina M; Godfrey, Linda K
    The intention of this book is to present the CSIR’s position and interpretation of the circular economy, and to use it to drive discussions on where immediate circular economy opportunities are achievable in South Africa. Opportunities that can be harnessed by business, government and civil society. These circular economy opportunities are framed in this book within the context of the current challenges facing various economic sectors. The CSIR has selected seven, resource intensive sectors – mining, agriculture, manufacturing, human settlements, mobility, energy and water – for further assessment. Many of these economic sectors have seen significant declines over the past years, with agriculture, manufacturing, transport and construction all showing negative growth pre-COVID. These are all sectors under economic stress and in need of regeneration. South Africa stands on the threshold of profound choices regarding its future development path. Transitioning to a more circular economy provides the country with the opportunity to address many national priorities including manufacturing competitiveness, food security; sustainable, resilient and liveable cities; efficient transport and logistics systems; and energy and water security, while at the same time decarbonising the economy. The transition to a circular economy provides the country with an opportunity for green and inclusive development to be the cornerstone of a post-COVID economic recovery. The titles of this book chapters are the following: Chapter 1: Driving economic growth in South Africa through a low carbon, sustainable and inclusive circular economy. Chapter 2: Placing the South African mining sector in the context of a circular economy transition. Chapter 3: Supporting food security and economic development through circular agriculture. Chapter 4: Supporting the development of a globally competitive manufacturing sector through a more circular economy. Chapter 5: Creating resilient, inclusive, thriving human settlements through a more circular economy. Chapter 6: Facilitating sustainable economic development through circular mobility. Chapter 7: Decoupling South Africa’s development from energy demand through a more circular economy. Chapter 8: Decoupling South Africa’s development from water demand through a circular economy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The circular economy, human settlements and municipal government
    (Alive2Green, 2024-01) Cooper, Antony K; Kruger, Tinus; Godfrey, Linda K; Napier, Mark; De Jager, Peta
    The linear economy is where resources (including energy and space) move through the economy in one direction, from being harvested, collected or mined, through refining and processing to create products and services, to uses and consumption, until being discarded. This creates value only while available resources are entering at one end and the waste exiting at the other does not foul up anything, or even everything.This chapter considers the current resources within human settlements for circularity, the expected trends, the potential resource constraints for future growth of circularity, key economic and socio-economic gains and losses associated with the linear economy, and opportunities for the circular economy in human settlements.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Creating more resilient, liveable human settlements through a circular economy
    (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 2025) Gibberd, Jeremy T; Karsten, Carike; Beetge, Carla; Burger, Paul A; Mans, Gerbrand G; Cooper, Antony K; Napier, Mark; Godfrey, Linda K
    This study explores the potential of the circular economy for human settlements in South Africa. It reviews current human settlement development pathways and draws on emerging concepts from the circular economy to identify and evaluate more sustainable alternatives. Seventeen (17) circular economy interventions (CEIs) were assessed to determine their appropriateness for South Africa, the sector's readiness to implement them, and the current level of implementation in South African human settlements. Engagement with private and public sector stakeholders showed a high level of familiarity with the 17 identified CEIs. The three most familiar interventions were virtualisation, roof gardens and composting. The three least familiar CEIs were found to be loose-fit, long-life design; equipment libraries; and design for disassembly. There was consensus amongst stakeholders that the adoption of circular practices would be beneficial for South African human settlements. The three most beneficial and appropriate circular interventions to South African human settlements included: greywater reuse; localising supply chains; and urban agriculture. The three least beneficial circular interventions were seen to be biobased construction materials, composting, and reuse of materials and products.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Quantifying economic activity in the informal recycling sector in South Africa
    (2021-11) Godfrey, Linda K
    Informal waste reclaimers are a key part of South Africa’s recycling economy, being responsible for around 51% of all paper and packaging waste collected in South Africa in 2017. Active in the waste and recycling landscape for more than three decades, their activity predates the earliest voluntary paper and packaging Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. However, these voluntary schemes have been instrumental in scaling South Africa’s recycling economy. Investment by brand owners, retailers, converters and recyclers has helped develop local end-use markets, creating a demand for paper and packaging recyclables and a resultant increase in their collection. An analysis of tonnage and price data shows that the mean estimate of money paid by the private sector to the informal waste sector through the purchase of recyclables at intermediaries such as buy-back centres, was ZAR625 million in 2012, increasing to ZAR872 million in 2017. This private sector ‘investment’ in the local recycling economy has led to direct and indirect job creation and improved livelihoods, particularly for a large, well-established and effective informal waste sector, and has indirectly funded municipal waste diversion strategies, saving municipalities in both the collection and disposal of waste.