Closing the Loop: Embracing the Circular Economy in Botswana

You have probably heard of the circular economy or seen the term being used in sustainability and climate change conversations. It may seems like as more people become aware of climate change, there may come across seemingly new terms, but we assure you, they have been in use. In this blog, we will explore the ‘circular economy’, what it means. what it involves, and how Botswana has been embracing it.

In honor of World Environment Day 2023 and its theme #BeatPlasticPollution, it is crucial to shed light on Botswana’s remarkable strides in adopting the circular economy principles to combat plastic pollution. The Botswana Climate Change Network (BCCN) takes pride in spearheading initiatives that promote sustainability, environmental consciousness, and the circular economy. Today, we delve into the concept of the circular economy and highlight major recyclers and companies in Botswana that embrace its values to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution. By promoting the adoption of circular economy practices, Botswana can make significant strides in reducing plastic pollution, preserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable development. The efforts of major recyclers and companies embracing circular economy values serve as beacons of hope and inspiration for a greener and cleaner future.

Understanding the Circular Economy

The circular economy is an innovative approach that aims to minimize waste, extend the life cycle of products, and maximize resource efficiency. It challenges the traditional linear model of “take-make-dispose” and instead focuses on reducing, reusing, recycling, and reimagining materials in a continuous loop. By adopting circular economy principles, we can mitigate the adverse effects of plastic pollution, reduce resource depletion, and pave the way for a more sustainable future. A circular economy is an economic model that aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by closing the loop of production, consumption, and disposal. It is a departure from the traditional linear economy, where resources are extracted, transformed into products, used, and then discarded as waste. In contrast, the circular economy promotes the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover.

Implementing a circular economy in Botswana can bring numerous benefits, including reduced environmental impact, resource conservation, job creation, and economic growth. Here are some key strategies for implementing a circular economy in Botswana:

Waste Management and Recycling: Establishing robust waste management systems and promoting recycling is a fundamental aspect of a circular economy. Botswana can invest in infrastructure and facilities for proper waste collection, segregation, and recycling. This includes setting up recycling centers, promoting household recycling initiatives, and encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable waste management practices.

Product Design and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Encouraging sustainable product design is essential for a circular economy. Botswana can promote the development and use of eco-friendly materials, encourage product durability, and promote modular design and reparability. Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies can also hold manufacturers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including proper disposal and recycling.

Collaborations and Partnerships: Implementing a circular economy requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, NGOs, and communities. Botswana can foster partnerships and collaborations to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. This can involve public-private partnerships to support recycling initiatives, research collaborations to explore innovative recycling technologies, and collaborations with educational institutions to promote circular economy awareness and education.

Circular Business Models: Encouraging businesses to adopt circular business models is crucial. Botswana can support and incentivize businesses that incorporate circular economy principles into their operations. This can involve offering financial incentives, tax breaks, or grants for companies that implement sustainable practices such as product leasing, take-back schemes, and remanufacturing.

Consumer Awareness and Engagement: Educating and engaging consumers is essential for the success of a circular economy. Botswana can launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the benefits of a circular economy, promote responsible consumption, and encourage the use of recycled products. Consumer behavior change programs can be implemented to encourage recycling, reduce waste, and promote a shift towards a circular lifestyle.

Research and Innovation: Encouraging research and innovation is critical for driving the transition to a circular economy. Botswana can invest in research and development of innovative recycling technologies, explore new materials and manufacturing techniques, and support startups and entrepreneurs working on circular economy solutions.

By implementing these strategies, Botswana can transition towards a circular economy and reap the benefits of reduced waste, resource conservation, and sustainable economic growth. It will contribute to the global efforts to combat plastic pollution and create a more sustainable and resilient future for the country.

In Botswana, several companies have embraced the principles of the circular economy and are actively involved in recycling and using recycled materials as raw materials for their products. Here are a few notable examples:

Enviro Recovery Botswana: Enviro Recovery Botswana specializes in collecting plastic waste and processing it into plastic pellets of different colors. These pellets are then melted and used to manufacture recycled materials, including plastic chairs. By recycling plastic waste, they contribute to reducing plastic pollution and promoting the circular economy.

Eco Zera Pencils: Eco Zera Pencils is a company that produces graphic pencils made from recycled paper. They collect waste paper and transform it into high-quality pencils, reducing the need for virgin materials. Their innovative approach promotes resource conservation and demonstrates the potential of the circular economy in Botswana.

Green Loop: Green Loop is a recycling company in Botswana that focuses on recycling various materials, including plastics, paper, glass, and metals. They collect recyclable waste from households and businesses, process it, and supply the recycled materials to industries that use them as raw materials for manufacturing new products.

Ngwao Glass: Ngwao Glass is a glass manufacturing company in Botswana that produces beautiful glassware and decorative items using recycled glass. They collect used glass bottles and transform them into unique and sustainable glass products, promoting a circular approach to glass production.

Botswana Ash: Botswana Ash is a mining company that produces soda ash, an essential ingredient in various industries. They have implemented a closed-loop system where the waste produced during the soda ash manufacturing process is recycled back into the production cycle. This approach minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency.

Bokomo Botswana: Bokomo Botswana, a subsidiary of Pioneer Foods, is a food manufacturing company that utilizes recycled materials in its packaging. They incorporate recycled plastic and paperboard into their packaging solutions, reducing the reliance on virgin materials and contributing to a more sustainable packaging industry.

PlastiCycle: This company specializes in recycling various types of plastic waste, including PET bottles, HDPE containers, and LDPE film. Through their innovative recycling processes, PlastiCycle converts discarded plastics into reusable materials, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste and conserving valuable resources.

EcoFibre: It produces eco-friendly bags made from recycled plastic. By utilizing recycled materials, EcoFibre not only reduces plastic waste but also offers sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic bags, encouraging a shift towards more environmentally friendly consumer choices.

Additionally, Plastobag, a leading plastic bag manufacturer, has embraced circular economy practices by incorporating recycled materials into their production processes. By utilizing recycled plastic, Plastobag reduces the demand for virgin plastics and contributes to the closing of the material loop, thus reducing plastic pollution.

These companies represent a growing movement in Botswana towards sustainable practices and circular economy principles. By recycling waste materials and incorporating recycled materials into their production processes, they are reducing environmental impact, conserving resources, and demonstrating the potential for a circular economy in Botswana.