The South African economy is estimated to be only 6% circular, reconfirming that the manufacturing industry is under pressure from materially dominated export-oriented extractives, energetically dominated fossil fuels and domestic coal supported by imported oil.
This is according to the Circular Innovation South Africa – an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) aimed at giving effect to the recently approved Circular Economy Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy (2024).
In response to these growing pressures, the DSTI has launched the South African Circular Manufacturing Initiative (SACMI), hosted by the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC). This bold initiative aims to support circularity in the manufacturing sector through STI, drawing on and supporting the national system of innovation, and building local and international research partnerships.
Speaking at the recently hosted SACMI Stakeholder workshop in Pretoria, Circular Innovation South Africa and CSIR Prof Linda Godfrey said the growing resource scarcity in materials, energy and water is putting pressure on industries to rethink how they operate and deliver value.
Godfrey believes that while there is a risk and a threat in that, these pressures also open the door to significant opportunities.
“From a South African perspective, we need to understand that the circular economy is more than waste management but rather it is about building products that last, components are reused or remanufactured, and waste becomes a resource rather than a cost. Therefore, businesses need to rethink its relationship between industry, manufacturing resources, whether it be material, energy or water.”
SACMI’s vision and objectives
SACMI is one of three DSTI-led initiatives aimed at exploring circular economy opportunities in South Africa’s resource-intensive sectors: agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Its objectives align with the NCPC-SA’s mandate to drive the transition to a green economy through resource-efficient and cleaner production interventions, with a strong focus on modernising manufacturing and building capacity.
According to Lee-Hendor Ruiters, Principal Project Manager at the NCPC: “Together with DSTI and Circular Innovation South Africa, SACMI will support the South African manufacturing sector to adopt, scale and accelerate circular practices and technology.”
To achieve this, SACMI is developing a network of strategic STI partners, including a core group of collaborators and a broader ecosystem of stakeholders across government, academia, and industry.
A key deliverable is the development of a Circular Manufacturing STI Strategy, which will identify sector-specific opportunities, address knowledge gaps, and guide strategic investments and innovation over the next 5 to 10 years.
In parallel, SACMI is establishing practical support mechanisms to help manufacturers—especially small businesses—demonstrate, adopt, and scale circular interventions in real-world settings.
“These coordinated efforts will bridge the gap between research and implementation, ensuring that circular economy practices are embedded in South Africa’s industrial future,” Ruiters added.
In order to focus impact, SACMI will be targeting three manufacturing sectors in the strategy, selected for both their need and potential for circular economy solutions: the Clothing and Textiles, Metals, and Automotive sectors.
Call for sector collaboration
The success of the initiative will depend on collaboration. NCPC is inviting stakeholders interested in co-creating impactful solutions to provide valuable input on how SA’s national systems of innovation can support the South African manufacturing sector, adopt and transition to more circular practices.
Stakeholders in the Clothing and Textiles, Metals, and Automotive sectors are encouraged to get involved. Interested parties can contact the us at ncpc@csir.co.za.
