A six-month pilot project to test whether reusable soap and detergent dispensers at informal grocery stores, known as spaza shops, will mitigate single-use plastic detergent containers, is being spearheaded by woman-led, nonprofit organisation Triple Shine Foundation.

The foundation secured over R570 000 in seed funding from UK and African collective group Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, which has delivered an ‘open innovation challenge’ to tackle plastic waste in collaboration with fast moving consumer goods company Unilever and local authorities.

The project, being undertaken among local communities in Limpopo, uses more affordable manual dispenser units that enable consumers to buy detergents and other goods on a pay-by-weight basis.

“Since customers will use their own containers for refills, this will remove the need for single-use plastics,” says Triple Shine Foundation CEO Sharon Rapetswa.

She notes that, by growing the circular economy, environmental issues can be tackled more efficiently and the country can create more economic opportunities.

However, while South Africa’s policymakers have an opportunity to create an enabling environment for the emerging circular economy, the implementation of circular practices in small and medium-sized enterprises could be costly.

For example, transitioning from single-use plastics to alternative product offerings is often not cost-effective for small businesses.

The foundation, therefore, advocates for regulatory updates that enable small, informal grocery stores to use manual dispenser units for refilling purposes.

Such reforms would create an enabling environment for the circular economy and promote sustainable practices among retailers.

The foundation also plans to partner with over 1 000 rural retailers to collect data that will inform policymaking and business models, demonstrating the practicality and sustainability of integrating circular practices. 

“South Africa is becoming increasingly aware of its growing plastic waste crisis, with landfills nearing capacity and plastic pollution affecting ecosystems,” says Rapetswa.

However, to fast-track public education and awareness, she suggests that various departmental entities should consider integrating 'responsible consumption' into school curriculums, ensuring that individuals understand the unsustainability of current habits and the availability of alternatives.

“This approach should cultivate a culture of sustainability from an early age,” Rapetswa adds.

Why Single Out Single-Use

South Africa is facing a growing plastic waste crisis, which necessitates a new approach.

According to a statement by multi-disciplinary non-profit association Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa president Leon Grobbelaar, the City of Johannesburg’s four remaining landfill sites are expected to be completely full within the next three years, and other municipalities, including Tshwane, are in a similar position, Rapetswa adds.

“By simply removing the need for single-use packaging, costs for groceries and household essentials can also be reduced, particularly benefiting low-income communities.”

There are “ample opportunities” for innovation in waste management, and profits can be coupled with positive social and environmental impact. 

“The status quo is unsustainable – we must scale back our use of single-use plastics,” she notes.

She acknowledges the obstacles to transitioning to a more circular economy, however stresses that everyone, including entrepreneurs, regulators and the private sector, must encourage and contribute to the development and implementation of long-term, sustainable solutions.

“Multistakeholder accountability is the only way forward, given the sheer scale of the waste problem in South Africa.”

However, this will not be easy an easy task, as plastic is “cheap and convenient”, few packaging alternatives can compete and deeply entrenched consumer habits are difficult to change.

Rapetswa adds that an additional challenge is that women in the waste sector often face obstacles, such as limited access to financing, balancing family responsibilities with business demands and overcoming societal biases.

Fortunately, through initiatives such as Triple Shine that empower women, these challenges can be addressed through entrepreneurial opportunities and support.

“There is a long and challenging road ahead on the path towards sustainability and circularity, but we need to begin the journey now,” she concludes.