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This collection is part of Footprints Africa's work to build a comprehensive database of circular economy initiatives in Africa. 

This is a result of the collaboration with the <a href="https://www.acen.africa" target="_blank">African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)</a>, as part of the programme to support the circular economy transition in Africa. Footprints Africa's vision is that businesses can be a force for good at scale. Their mission is to advance sustainable, scalable and inclusive approaches to development of local African economies. Footprints Africa supports SMEs to adopt future-friendly practices, such as those inspired by the circular economy, to address the challenges of growth and create jobs. 

This open-source dataset features well over 500 cases and 200 examples of policies and laws and intent to collect inspiring examples of initiatives from across Africa, in order to inform the global dialogue, which is largely focused on the European and American context. 

To learn more about Africa's initiatives and content to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit https://www.footprintsafrica.co/



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Footprints Africa

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Business case

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Producing textile and leather products and processing them into apparel and accessories

Fashion and Textiles

Utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling

Use waste as a resource

Consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives that build on the interaction between products and services

Rethink the business model

Work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector and communities to increase transparency and create joint value

Team up to create joint value

VISION:
Raw materials are renewable, recyclable and safe, kept in continual circulation.

DETAIL:
Imagine a time when…the raw materials that are used to make things are sourced from existing products and regenerative agriculture, via carbon negative and climate neutral processes. Biodegradable raw materials are used for products with biodegradable end routes. Toxic chemicals have been washed out of the global materials pool, disposed of safely and replaced with beneficial alternatives. Virgin fibres made from fossil fuels have been banned, while secondary synthetic fibres, derived from what was already in the system, are kept in constant circulation as a resource. Circularity accounting methods, built on science-based metrics, help to manage a balanced system of resources, across all industries, and in line with the planet’s environmental limits.

Raw Materials and Planetary Boundaries

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

Impacts

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Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

It is 2050.  Full systems change has taken place. This wouldn’t have been possible without the immediate action and radical steps taken from 2020 onwards. Many targets had to be identified in the early 2020s and achieved by 2030 to ensure that the 2050 goal happened in full. A sense of urgency, turbo stakeholder collaboration, supportive government regulation and clear, data driven targets enabled the mindsets and systems change needed to transform to a fully circular textiles ecosystem.

A circular economics model underpins what we have created. It reflects and supports a living organism made up of makers, users and restorers, interacting across vibrant and interconnected networks. Checks and balances, alongside transparency and accountability, ensure a healthy system. Financial, environmental, and social metrics have the purpose of serving communities and the planet. There is shared ownership of profit and loss – across all three metrics – throughout the value chain.

This is what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years:

WCTD Themes

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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South Africa

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Cape Town

Africa

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Footprints Africa supports SMEs to adopt future-friendly practices, address the challenges of growth and create jobs, using supply chains as a tool for development. 

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The vision of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) is to build a restorative African economy that generates well-being and prosperity inclusive of all its people through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate its environmental resources.

African Circular Economy Network

Rewoven collects textile waste from garment manufacturers, putting it into recycling loops where it is processed into fibres for a variety of purposes. 

Rewoven 

<p>Rewoven collects textile waste from garment manufacturers, putting it into recycling loops where it is processed into fibres for a variety of purposes.&nbsp;</p>

Rewoven - Reimagining textile waste


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Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

Impact on the health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Direct and indirect effects that increase revenues or the potential for new revenues, for example from new products, customer segments, partnerships or business models

Revenue Potential

Efficiency gains on operations or transactions either through cultural or technological shifts

Productivity

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle waste streams within the same industry

Valorise waste streams - closed loop

Engage with the local community where facilities or offices are located

Community collaboration

Enacting measures that optimise material use such as 3D printing, etc.

Material efficiency

Extraction and reuse of parts from end-of-life products for use in new products

Part recovery

Activities to clean, decorate, and restore products back to working condition for original or new purposes

Refurbishment, remanufacturing, renovation

Transforming waste products, materials for reuse within the same industry

Closed loop upcycling

Collection programmes that process products and parts for reuse or recycling within other industries

Open loop collection

Selling high quality, long-lasting products

Sale of durable, long-lasting goods

Designing products so they produce as little waste as possible during production

Design for minimal waste

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Designing products to resist damage and wear, and serve a long and useful life.

Design for physical durability

VISION:
Products and services are designed for multiple use and material value retention, with maximum positive impact.

DETAIL: 
Imagine a time when…products flow via optimal collection and distribution streams into reusable and repairable product platforms. Reuse and access models are dominant, and products are designed for multiple recirculation before biodegrading (if designed to do so), or being broken down into reusable raw materials for production. People only consume what they need. Production and consumption wastes have been fully eliminated and multifunctional, season-less and timeless fashions are the norm, yet still fulfil our human need for expression and creativity without constraint. All business models, organisations, governments and citizens play a role in maintaining a healthy, functioning circular ecosystem.

Products and Services

VISION:
People are valued and supported in an equitable, socially just and resilient society.

DETAIL:
Imagine a time when…people and communities are at the heart of any sustainable and circular system. The planet thrives, enabling us to survive with balance and abundance. People are no longer passive consumers, but proactive participants. The ‘makers’ who design, build, reprocess and recirculate products throughout the value chain are treated equally and are equitable partners in shaping and benefitting from the system. Textiles/garments can be produced and repurposed locally as well as centrally. A blend of craft methods alongside more automated production provides regionalised, multi-faceted perspectives and fulfilling livelihoods, be they high- or low-tech. Wealth gaps are minimised and dignity, equity, equality is a reality for all.

People and Society

Ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way

Prioritise regenerative resources [Textiles]

Utilise bio-based, reusable, non-toxic and non-critical materials

Regenerative materials [Textiles]

Material efficiency [Textiles]

The Textiles Key Elements Framework is based on the main Key Elements Framework which renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive textile-focused strategies and interventions. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete inspiring exemples to prevent and reduce the textiles waste mountain. 

The Framework consists of:
- 3 core elements: activities directly handling textile product or material flows; and uniquely,
- 4 Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.

Under which strategies provide further detail. Finally, each strategy consists of a diversity of tangible solutions which are framed in relation to the sought outcome. 

'Click through each of the seven elements cards below to explore the framework and circular textile-focused case studies in more depth!'

This framework was developed in collaboration with Circle Economy's textiles team. Read more about it [here]( https://www.circle-economy.com/programmes/textiles). 

Textiles Key Elements Framework

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 An action-based framework for apparel brands working towards circular strategies

We aim to generate as little waste as possible in our business operations. We mainly generate plastic and paper waste from the collection of textile waste.  ​ Therefore, in addition to recycling the textile waste that we collect, we also recycle all of the plastic and paper waste that we generate in the recycling process.All of the equipment we use in our factory is optimised for energy efficiency, with a preference for electric forklifts and hydraulic balers. Our textile recycling supply chain is currently localised within South Africa. We are constantly working on improving our current logistics networks, to decrease the impact that transportation has on carbon emissions in our textile recycling process.We encourage clients to re-use old plastic bags (which we recycle) to store their textile waste in preparation for textile waste collection. In addition to this, we provide clients with re-usable polypropylene bags for all on-site sorting operations. Lastly, for the packaging of our bales of textile waste, we use preloved cardboard boxes.All employees are employed in compliance with the Basic Employment Act of South Africa. ​ Moreover, Rewoven is committed to social transformation and inclusion: 1. Rewoven is a Level 1 BEE company; ​ 2. 83% of our staff identify as Black. 17% of our staff identify as  coloured; ​ 3. 33% of our staff are people who identify as women and 0% are people who identify as differently-abled. We are aware that there is more room for improvement and are constantly working towards making sure Rewoven is an inclusive organisation.Our recycled fabric requires no virgin material as it is completely made from waste-products: 60% textile waste and 40% plastic waste. ​ Additionally, the manufacturing process requires no dyeing or additional chemicals - the colour of the fabric is the same as the colour of the textile waste used as an input. This means our fabric requires no water to manufacture. Our fabric does release micro-plastics due to the presence of polyester. We recommend using laundry bags (such as the Brabantia washing set available in South Africa) to reduce the release of micro-plastics. Scientifically approved micro-plastic preventing laundry bags such as the Guppyfriend are not yet available in South Africa. We are constantly doing research and product development work that seeks to replace polyester or eliminate the release of micro-plastics from our product.Our recycled fabric is made using an energy efficient mechanical recycling process, as opposed to chemical recycling which is an energy intensive process. Our recycled fabric is manufactured in India. We are aware of the carbon emission impact of the supply chain for our recycled fabric and are constantly working hard at localising the production of the fabric in South Africa in order to decrease its carbon emission impact.We have worked very closely with our fabric supplier and have chosen a supplier we trust. Our fabric is made in full compliance with local and international labour and trade laws. Our recycled fabric is certified by the following organisations: Global Recycling Standard (GRS), Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Fairtrade and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.For delivery of the fabric to our clients, we use recycled paper packaging. We encourage our clients responsibly dispose of this packaging and ensure it is recycled. Our logistics partner requires the use of plastic packaging for orders which is regrettably non-recyclable. We are aware of this constraint and are constantly seeking sustainable packaging alternatives.Future of Fashion Indaba is our non-profit initiative that provides education on circularity and ethics in the clothing industry to all stakeholders in the South African value chain. The aim is to facilitate an ecosystem of collaborative learning that can contribute to the development of a thriving, ethical and future-fit African fashion industry. For the hosting of Future of Fashion Indaba, we ensure that we: ​ 1. Host a low-impact event ensuring all waste generated is recycled, and opting for natural, reusable and recyclable event decor and vegan meal options; ​ 2. Ensure diversity and inclusivity in our program with a particular focus on ensuring the inclusion of people who do not identify as cishet men, people who identify as Black, Indigenous and other People of Colour (BIPOC), youth (ages 18 - 35) and people who identify as differently-abled; ​ 3. Compensate all service providers and creatives fairly; Have a collaborative approach towards knowledge generation: Seek out local and global collaborations and partnerships in knowledge generation; ​ 4. Democratise all educational resources and ensure they are accessible.

City of Cape Town

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<p>Rewoven is a company collecting off-cut fabrics and textile wastes and repurposes it into 100% recycled fabric to sell across the stores of South Africa. They believe that ethical fashion can assist in addressing issues of employment and poverty in the fashion industry, and strongly put an emphasis on the spirit of community : umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.</p>