#cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 awards R60,000 to Cape’s next sustainability innovators

#cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 awards R60,000 to Cape Town’s next sustainability

innovators

19 September 2024, Cape Town – Four winners of the #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 have been awarded

R15,000 each for their groundbreaking innovations at the South Africa Circular Economy Hotspot 2024 Conference.

The Mission Network of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa (#cocreateSANL), in collaboration with the Craft

and Design Institute (CDI), launched the Challenge earlier this year to drive positive change and foster circular economy

solutions.

Image above: #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 winners from left: Baxolile Singata (Category: Repair & Re-use),

Marlene Mostert (Category: Consumer Education), Marnus Smith (Category: Organic Waste) and

Sivise Magqazolo (Category: Fashion &

Textiles)

Out of 80 local innovators who participated in the Challenge, eight finalists were selected to pitch their ideas at the final

stage of the competition. These finalists, representing a range of innovative approaches across different sectors, made

their presentations on 19 September 2024 at the prestigious conference, where four exceptional projects were ultimately

chosen as the winners.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Hélène Rekkers, Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, expressed her

gratitude to the 80 participants and remarked on the high quality of proposals received: “We were overwhelmed by the

sheer volume of fantastic ideas that were submitted for this year’s Challenge. These innovations have the potential to

shape the future of sustainable design in South Africa and beyond. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to

the winners, and my appreciation to all the participants who contributed to this important initiative.”

Erica Elk, CEO of the CDI, also praised the calibre of ideas presented during the competition: “We cannot simply recycle

our way out of this crisis. The range of solutions that came forward highlights the importance of circular design in

rethinking how we use and reuse materials, and rethink waste streams. The creativity and passion displayed by the

participants are truly inspiring, and we are excited to see how these innovations will make an impact on local

communities and the broader economy.”

“This is just a first step in the journey for these innovators and their solutions, and the CDI will continue to find ways

to support these winners – as well as all the other participants in this programme. For us to impact on the challenges

we face we need many more people thinking about and searching for solutions; and we need role-players in the public

and private sector – people who are concerned about the environmental crisis – to support these innovations through

their next stages.”

The 2024 Challenge offered Cape Town innovators the chance to:

• Learn about design thinking principles and circular economy methodologies,
• Gain new perspectives on how to solve pressing environmental problems,
• Network with other entrepreneurs and experts passionate about sustainability, and
• Compete for four R15,000 seed funding awards to further develop their circular design innovations.

The winners were selected in four focal areas via an aggregated score from four Circular Design experts and an audience

poll at the Conference. Workshops and mentorship for participants were provided by several local and international experts,

including those from the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

2024’s #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 winners

Repair and Re-use category:

Winner: Baxolile Singata, Clean Care

Image above (from left): Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, Hélène Rekkers; Baxolile Singata and

CEO of the CDI, Erica Elk

Baxolile’s Clean Care offers eco-friendly, refillable detergent solutions designed to reduce plastic waste and promote

sustainable living. Their modular containers allow users to refill multiple cleaning products, eliminating the need for

single-use plastics. By aligning with circular economy principles, Clean Care minimises environmental impact while

providing safe, effective cleaning solutions. Their goal is to revolutionise the cleaning industry by offering innovative,

eco-conscious alternatives that benefit both consumers and the planet.

Fashion and Textiles category:

Winner: Sivise Magqazolo, Fishtank Clothing

Image above (from left): Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, Hélène Rekkers; Sivise Magqazolo and CEO

of the CDI, Erica Elk

The EcoBlend Wear by Fishtank Clothing offers stylish, high-quality garments made from upcycled fabric offcuts, reducing

textile waste and promoting sustainability. By transforming leftover materials into unique, multi-coloured designs, the

collection aligns with circular economy principles, providing an eco-friendly alternative to fast fashion. With a focus on

both individuality and environmental responsibility, the EcoThreads Collection delivers fashion-forward products that

cater to the growing demand for ethical and sustainable clothing.

Organic Waste category:

Winner: Marnus Smith, Greenpop

Image above (from left): Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, Hélène Rekkers; Marnus Smith and CEO of 

the CDI, Erica Elk

Greenpop’s offering is a scalable, zero-waste event management solution that transforms human waste into valuable

compost through innovative humanure systems, nature-based urinals, a blueprint and Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) for sustainable event practices, and a comprehensive communications strategy. They contribute to the circular

economy by transforming human waste into nutrient-rich compost, diverting organic waste streams from landfill, and

creating a closed-loop system that maximises resource efficiency and minimises environmental impact.

Consumer Education category:

Winner: Marlene Mostert, Metanoia 

Image above (from left): Consul General of the Netherlands in Cape Town, Hélène Rekkers; Marlene Mostert and CEO of 

the CDI, Erica Elk

Metanoia addresses the plastic waste problem in underserved communities by creating meaningful resources such as desks,

using a community-based collection model in under-resourced schools. This enables students to participate in sustainable

practices by collecting household plastic waste, and get access to reimagined sustainable education through events and

applied learning opportunities. Participating schools will be beneficiaries of these desks, reducing the resource gap circularly.

Building a sustainable future through Circular Design

Circular Design focuses on creating products and services that reduce waste and foster a sustainable future. With the

joint goals of the Netherlands and South Africa to advance circular solutions, the 2024 Challenge underscored the

importance of innovation in tackling today’s socio-economic and environmental challenges.

Ends

About #cocreateSANL
For over a decade, #cocreateSANL, led by the Netherlands Mission Network in South Africa, has brought together diverse

groups to exchange ideas and foster innovations for a sustainable future.

About the CDI
The Craft and Design Institute (CDI) is a non-profit organisation with over 20 years of experience developing creative

individuals, small businesses, and the craft and design sector in South Africa.

Supported by:
The 2024 Challenge was made possible by the financial contribution of the City of Cape Town, and in collaboration with

the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), Circular South Africa (CSA), Circular Squared, GreenCape, and the

Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika at UCT.