Mark from eWaste, winner of the Circular Innovation Challenge 2024 29 Apr 2025 Celebrating Circular Thinking As an inter-connected neighbourhood, we understand that no one has all the answers. We get excited by the incredible work that South Africans are doing in the field of sustainability and we want to shine a light on their efforts and support them in maximising important solutions. That’s why we introduced the Circular Innovation Challenge, a platform for revolutionary thinking and the sharing of ideas that will benefit our planet.We believe that when we act from our better nature, nature gets better. This annual competition rewards those acting from their better nature with inventive solutions for environmental problems. In 2024, the phenomenal team over at EWaste Africa (a KZN-based electronic recycling centre) won the grand prize with their solution to the problem of non-recyclable solar panels. Find out more about their mission and their plan to open a game-changing plant in the Western Cape. INTRODUCING 2024 CIRCULAR INNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNERS SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF SOLAR POWER“Did you know that the large majority of solar panels are not recyclable? They are banned from landfills. But even if they weren’t, the scale would overwhelm current facilities. With over 26 million currently operating in South Africa, until we have an end-of-life solution for them, this makes solar power the opposite of green technology. As experts in electronic waste solutions, this impending mega-wave of waste is a future crisis that we at EWaste Africa can start solving now. The problem is that only a portion of the metal in solar panels (which makes up for the minority of the unit anyway) is recyclable, while the majority of the unit is made from laminate glass which is non-recyclable through traditional means.” “So, we kicked off with a pilot plant to turn solar panel glass into concrete pavers. Through trial, error and lots of testing, we have found the perfect ratio, leaving us with pavers that are made up of 40% glass. We also had to find the right binding agent and ensure that pavers were compressible under extreme weights. Now, the solar panels can find a new life, under our feet and wheels. This innovation also decreases the need for sand, which is itself a finite resource.”- Mark, eWaste “The success of this pilot plant has led us in planning the launch of a dedicated plant in the Western Cape. This will allow us to grow from processing 30 000 units to 120 000 units per year. Ultimately, our goal is to produce 100 000 pavers via this new plant. We’re also excited to be getting our Global GreenTag certification in coming months, as independent evidence of the eco-friendliness of our product. We hope that this certification, and our increased scale of operations, helps us reach more customers so that we can grow large enough to make a meaningful dent in the waste created by end-of-life solar panels. We’re incredibly excited to have won this competition. It helps us get the word of our solar solution out to where it will really make a difference.” Learn more at www.ewasteafrica.net. MEET ANOTHER 2024 FINALISTWe had so many amazing finalists in the 2024 Challenge that we just had to share one more with you:“Leafline manufactures washable sanitary-wear. The disposable alternatives take over 500 years to decompose. In the meantime, they end up in our landfills and clog up into rivers and oceans. Beyond being a re usable alternative (which is also more affordable for the consumer), our environmentally-friendly products are innovatively made from natural fibres taken from the leaves of the Cayenne pineapple. It’s time that we all change our mindsets and adjust our action to protect our planet. Around 132 million babies are born every year - and every disposable nappy they use is still around for half a century. This is an alarming reason to make a change!” Learn more at www.leafline.co.za. Electronic Waste is an Increasing Social CrisisAs shown by our 2024 winner, electronic waste is a real problem. As with so many waste crises, because the problem is typically out of sight, it ends up being out of mind, something to forget. Think for a moment of all the cellphones you see in one day. Now, imagine that they will all need to replaced at some point. What happens to them after? That doesn’t even take into account laptops, tablets, wearable tech and home tech. The problem keeps getting bigger and bigger. But, organisations like EWaste Africa are creating solutions. Already, EWaste Africa operates 60 drop-off containers (mostly at Pick n Pays around the country, for people to drop e-waste off to be safely and ethically managed at the end of their life) with plans to increase this to 200. Find your nearest at www.ewasteafrica.net/services-and-solutions/ IN THE WORDS OF THE CIRCULAR INNOVATION CHALLENGE Related stories Our V&A Landscaping Team Read more on our Changemaker: Niaz and Migyle, V&A retail Development Team Read More Niaz and Migyle, V&A Retail Development Team Read more on our Changemaker: Niaz and Migyle, V&A retail Development Team Read More Deidre, Social Impact At The V&A Read more on our Changemaker: Deidre, Social Impact at the V&A Read More share
