ASEZA

Africa’s community innovators are turning waste into opportunity; transforming plastic, cooking oil, and surplus crops into jobs, clean energy, and food security solutions across the continent. ♻️🌍

Finalists in the WAFA - Water Air Food Awards 2026 are showcasing how locally driven solutions are tackling environmental and economic challenges from the ground up.

In Kenya, The The FlipFlopi Project is converting plastic waste into durable materials and livelihoods along the coast, while KOMB GREEN SOLUTIONS is restoring degraded urban spaces by turning organic waste into income opportunities for youth and women.

In South Africa, Lathitha Biodiesel is transforming used cooking oil into renewable biodiesel and creating green jobs in township communities. Meanwhile, Laboscience in Ethiopia is converting post-harvest food waste into livestock feed and fertilizers, and GreenBox in Republic of the Congo is helping farmers cut losses through solar-powered cold storage solutions.

Their recognition ahead of the Generation Green Forum 2026 signals a broader shift; where Africa’s sustainability future is increasingly being shaped by grassroots innovation, circular economy thinking, and community-led climate action.

Read the full story by Solomon Irungu N.: https://lnkd.in/dutv5t5f

The 12th Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference (MMEC) 2026 will take place on 6-7 May under the theme "Mozambique: Open for Business - Unlocking Natural Resources for Industrialisation, Diversification, and Inclusive Growth."
Our CEO, , will be attending, speaking as a panelist, and we look forward to engaging with partners, investors, and industry peers in key discussions on the future of mining and energy in Mozambique, as well as being part of this space for dialogue, collaboration, and new opportunities. .mz

Turning Plastic Waste into Stronger Bricks 🧱

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s toughest environmental challenges—but in Kenya, a young engineer is turning this problem into a circular economy solution.

Nzambi Matee, founder of Gjenge Makers, has invented a way to recycle discarded plastic into durable, eco-friendly bricks that can be stronger and lighter than traditional cement blocks. Her process combines shredded plastic with sand, which is then heated and compressed into bricks suitable for sidewalks, streets, and low-cost construction.

Why this matters:

♻ Waste becomes a resource – Instead of ending up in landfills or rivers, plastic is repurposed to build infrastructure.
🏗 Durable and efficient – These bricks outperform many cement alternatives while reducing construction costs and carbon emissions.
🌱 Promotes circular economy – Every brick represents a looped lifecycle: plastic waste → building material → community infrastructure.
💼 Economic impact – Gjenge Makers creates jobs, trains local workers, and demonstrates that sustainability can also drive local business growth.

Globally, the construction sector is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions. By replacing cement with recycled plastic bricks, projects like this reduce both CO₂ emissions and environmental pollution. Matee’s innovation exemplifies the power of thinking differently about waste—not as a burden, but as an opportunity for sustainable growth.

Her work has earned recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme, including the “Young Champion of the Earth” award, proving that innovative solutions can scale impact both environmentally and economically.

South-to-North innovation like this is a reminder that circular economy principles are not just about recycling—they are about redesigning systems, creating jobs, and protecting the planet simultaneously.

As we look for sustainable solutions worldwide, projects like Gjenge Makers show that small-scale innovation can deliver outsized benefits—for communities, for the environment, and for the economy.

Source: Circularity Hub

Green Climate Fund Approves $441m for African Projects Green Climate Fund approves $441m for African climate projects, mobilising $1.1bn in co-financing. Major boost for renewable energy access and climate resilience across the continent.

Nature’s Circular Powerhouses

Two plants are quietly reshaping the future of sustainable materials: bamboo and h**p.

Fast-growing, low-input, and highly versatile, they represent a shift from extractive systems to regenerative ones. Bamboo can grow in a wide range of climates and regenerate rapidly without replanting. H**p enriches soil, requires fewer chemicals, and produces high yields in short cycles.

But the real impact lies in circularity.

From textiles and packaging to construction and bio-based alternatives, these materials can replace resource-intensive inputs like plastics, timber, and fossil-based products. Their ability to be reused, recycled, and reintegrated into natural systems makes them ideal for a circular economy.

The potential is massive, but scaling matters.

Sustainable sourcing, responsible processing, and efficient supply chains will determine whether bamboo and h**p deliver true climate benefits or fall into the same linear traps.

For businesses and policymakers, this is an opportunity to rethink material flows:

Design out waste.
Keep resources in use.
Regenerate natural systems.

Because the transition to a circular economy will not be driven by a single breakthrough,
but by smarter use of what nature already provides.

Source: Sustainability Circle