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The document examines the role of FoodForward SA as a trusted intermediary in South Africa's food supply chain, using a circular economy lens to divert surplus food from landfills to those in need. It highlights the economic and environmental drivers for food rescue in Cape Town, such as high landfill fees and provincial organic waste diversion targets. In 2020/21, FoodForward SA redistributed approximately 7,215 tonnes of food nationally, with specific impacts in Cape Town including the saving of 8,592 tonnes of GHG emissions and the creation of R45 million in retail value from rescued food.

The document details how District Watch Group, a Cape Town-based security company, integrated eight BMW i3 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) into its 60-vehicle fleet. The transition resulted in an overall cost reduction of approximately 80% over the vehicle's life, primarily driven by significantly lower maintenance and fuel costs, despite higher upfront capital, insurance, and tyre expenses. The case study highlights the role of green innovation in enhancing the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) against acute shocks and chronic stresses.

The document details the adaptive measures taken by the City of Cape Town (CCT) and GreenCape to ensure green economy skills training continued during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. By shifting to virtual learning platforms, adjusting technical course protocols, and providing remote training, the partnership aimed to build economic resilience and empower youth in Atlantis to access opportunities within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). Key outcomes include the reach of over 115 learners through IkamvaYouth and 129 people trained via Lesedi Training Academy.

The document details a green economy initiative in two Cape Town informal settlements, Freedom Farm and Malawi Camp, where GreenCape and iSolar Ngoku are deploying solar home systems. The project aims to address a 30-year lack of formal electricity while fostering local employment through the training of community members as installers. The model uses a paid-service approach to ensure ownership and funds a community resource pool.

The document examines the potential for recovering construction materials from builders' rubble at Cape Town's drop-off sites to mitigate a regional landfill airspace crisis. It highlights a June 2019 survey showing that contractors at some sites recover an average of 920 bricks weekly, suggesting a business case for low-skilled job creation and support for low-income housing. However, the viability of this model is challenged by labour costs, the need for consistent volumes of quality material, and theft.

The document details how the Philippi Economic Development Initiative (PEDI), in partnership with UCook's Food Fund and Ladles of Love, addressed food insecurity in Cape Town during the Covid-19 pandemic. Key outcomes included the distribution of over 3,667 food parcels, the purchase of 7.3 tonnes of produce from small-scale farmers, and the provision of R190,000 in income to 29 farms. The study highlights the effectiveness of community-led distribution models and the role of urban farming in mitigating acute shocks. Additionally, it describes the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership's (EDP) role in coordinating food relief through a government-NGO forum and the Community Kitchens programme, which provided digital vouchers to 100 informal kitchens across Cape Town.

The document details a resilience-building project in the Witsand informal settlement, where GreenCape, ThinkWifi, and community leaders co-designed solar street lights that provide both area lighting and internet connectivity. This initiative utilizes an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to provide interim services in an area characterized by a lack of formal tenure and inadequate basic services. The project aims to improve safety, close the digital divide, and foster local economic empowerment, particularly in the context of South Africa's load shedding challenges.

This document is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by GreenCape in May 2020 for the development of an interactive online directory of green business support services in South Africa, created in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).

A buyback centre in Vrygrond, Cape Town, diverts approximately 1,500 tonnes of waste from landfills annually, providing an annual community income between R950,000 and R1.9 million. The centre employs 20 people and supports 300 waste reclaimers, though it faces challenges regarding land access and infrastructure. The document recommends formalising engagement between the municipality and buyback centres to improve waste management in informal areas.

The document highlights Mushroom Guru (Pty) Ltd as a practical example of urban agriculture in Cape Town, using indoor vertical farming and aeroponics to cultivate medicinal and gourmet mushrooms. It argues that green technology enables intensive, resource-efficient production that reduces water use and utilizes agricultural waste, contributing to a circular economy. The study also emphasizes the role of training and cooperative platforms, like Fungkifriend, in securing market access for small-scale growers and creating economic opportunities within the urban food value chain.

The document details Shoprite's strategy to mitigate the impacts of load-shedding and rising electricity tariffs through a three-pronged energy efficiency approach. Using the Shoprite Constantia store in Cape Town as a primary example, the report highlights the implementation of a 440kWp grid-tied solar system, LED lighting retrofits, and solar-powered refrigerated trailers. These interventions have led to significant reductions in utility costs, diesel consumption, and electricity usage. The broader program has expanded to 19 sites, with plans to reach 25, reflecting a long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptive capacity against economic and environmental shocks.

The document argues that solar PV is a financially viable option for South African businesses, capable of reducing electricity costs by approximately 15% with payback periods between 3 and 12 years. It highlights that larger systems benefit from economies of scale, with capital costs for systems over 500 kWp falling below R10k per kWp. The brief also details various financial incentives, including tax benefits (12i and 12b) and VAT deductibility, and notes that the Western Cape is a leader in implementing regulations and feed-in tariffs for Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG).

The document details how CPV Power Plant No.1 (RF) (Pty) Ltd provided 20kW solar PV systems to Touwsrivier Primary School and Steenvliet Primary School. This initiative, aligned with REIPPPP's economic development policy, reduces school electricity costs and provides educational exposure to renewable energy. The case study highlights the potential for public-private collaboration to unlock value in sustainable infrastructure projects.

The City of Cape Town (CCT) implemented a circular procurement policy for its wheelie bins, requiring them to be made from 50% HDPE recyclate with a 10-year minimum lifespan. Since November 2014, this initiative has diverted approximately 1,132 to 1,156 tonnes of HDPE from landfills, saving between 1,053 and 1,121m3 of landfill airspace. The programme has generated cost savings of R9 to R10.1 million through lower unit prices and an additional R6.7 million via a bin-exchange scheme where the contractor provides one free bin for every 65kg of condemned material. The project has created 13 permanent and 18 part-time local jobs and reduced Scope 2 CO2 eq emissions by 1,708 tonnes. By sourcing materials locally and securing end-markets for recyclers, the CCT has reduced its vulnerability to global commodity price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

The document argues that on-site wastewater treatment is a key intervention to mitigate South Africa's projected 30% water supply deficit by 2030. It details the processes for treating organic wastewater (greywater and blackwater) to non-potable standards for uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation. The brief outlines three technology variants—tank assemblies, pre-fabricated systems, and brick-and-mortar constructions—while highlighting operational risks like bacterial die-off due to variable loading. It also maps the regulatory landscape, including the National Water Act (1998) and SANS 30500:2019, and provides case studies from the Western Cape demonstrating cost savings and regulatory compliance.

The report outlines opportunities for industrial symbiosis in two Cape Town industrial zones. In Montague Gardens, it highlights the reuse of boiler ash in brick making, the need for treated wood waste solutions, and the potential to shift freight from road to rail. In Atlantis, it identifies opportunities for reusing foundry sand and ash, recovering precious metals from e-waste, and investing in waste-to-energy infrastructure such as pyrolysis and gasification plants. The document argues that establishing a central management body and fostering collaboration on shared services and material exchanges are essential for building business resilience and creating low-carbon zones.

The document details how WISP connected Advanced Technical Sock Industries (ATSI) in the Western Cape with The Care Bear Project in Pietermaritzburg, allowing the latter to use ATSI's yarn fluff waste as stuffing for teddy bears. With free transport provided by The Courier Guy, the initiative diverted 0.18 tonnes of waste annually from landfills and saved The Care Bear Project R10,800 per year, enabling the employment of two additional staff members.

The document details how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) connected Quality Crate Manufacturers with West Coast Plastics to replace virgin HDPE with recycled pellets. This synergy resulted in the diversion of 35 tonnes of plastic from landfills, the avoidance of 80 tonnes of CO2e emissions, and R350,000 in additional revenue for the recycler.

The document assesses South Africa's adherence to the ICESCR during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting failures in revenue generation and expenditure allocation. It argues that austerity measures have undermined healthcare, education, and social security, and proposes specific fiscal reforms—such as wealth taxes and a universal basic income grant—to ensure the progressive realisation of human rights.

The document highlights a severe unemployment crisis in South Africa, worsened by COVID-19, and argues that the government's response has been insufficient to protect the right to decent work. It emphasizes deep racial and gender inequalities in job losses and the vulnerability of informal and domestic workers who lack social protections like the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). The authors call for expanded income support, better labour law enforcement, and a legislative framework for the informal economy to meet international human rights standards.