SPOGAD is a fashion-tech company that recycles local plastic waste into high-end accessories, jewelry, and complex detailing for the premium fashion industry. It runs a closed-loop, vertically integrated system: collecting and sorting citizens' plastic waste and transforming it in-house into bespoke elements such as custom patterns, Murano-glass-like beads, recycled thread for crochet and basketry, and CNC-milled or injection-molded details, with 3D-printed recycled PET and upcycled sequins planned. Its value proposition lets premium brands produce fully local, traceable, custom-designed items from recycled plastic, accompanied by climate-accounting reports. The tiered business model spans catalogue products, custom variations, and bespoke design. SPOGAD's environmental impact includes a roughly 70% lower carbon footprint than virgin plastic and a goal of eliminating more than 11 tonnes of virgin plastic per year by 2028. Traction includes a first pilot with Yves Rocher and industry awards.

BCycle SA provides sustainable transportation solutions through a network of rental bicycles made from reclaimed plastic. Designed to reduce urban traffic congestion, carbon emissions and plastic waste, the service supports clean and affordable last-mile travel in South African cities. Addressing the gap in short-distance mobility, especially in Pretoria’s central areas, BCycle SA offers an alternative to cars, buses and taxis. In partnership with municipalities, including Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Polokwane, and research institutions such as UNISA and UJ PEETS, the company champions the use of bicycles as inclusive, low-carbon transport.

We-R-Eco provides plug-in modular biogas plants that convert organic waste and wastewater into renewable biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer. Designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these compact, plug-and-play units offer a low-cost, scalable solution to two pressing issues: ineffective waste management and the need for sustainable energy. The technology integrates selected microbes to optimize anaerobic digestion, resulting in higher biogas yields and reduced input needs. By displacing traditional fossil fuel-based energy and chemical fertilizers, the system reduces methane emissions, mitigates landfill overuse, and promotes circular economy practices. We-R-Eco enables off-grid energy access while supporting cleaner, climate-friendly operations across sectors.

The company developed a solution E-pacer 100 - a heavy-duty electric cargo bike designed to empower waste reclaimers and recyclers in informal and underserved communities. With a load capacity of 750–850 kg (including rider), the bike enables recyclers to cover long distances efficiently while transporting large volumes of collected waste. Targeting buy-back centers and SMMEs in South Africa’s low-barrier recycling economy, the E-pacer 100 offers an affordable, sustainable transport alternative to carts or trucks, which are often inaccessible or unaffordable. Developed by recyclers for recyclers, the bike supports dignified livelihoods, improves income margins, and addresses transportation challenges in the circular economy. It is a practical tool for those who currently rely on makeshift or unsafe transport methods in their daily work.

AB Farms developed a vertical hydroponic planter system designed to enable decentralized urban farming while addressing critical challenges such as land scarcity, water shortages and power instability. Unlike standard NFT hydroponic systems that require a continuous flow of water, this planter irrigates periodically, significantly reducing pump runtimes and overall energy use. This makes it especially well-suited for regions affected by load shedding, such as South Africa, where a constant power supply is not guaranteed. By decoupling irrigation from continuous energy inputs, the system allows crops to access mineral nutrients even during pump outages. Its vertical design also enables space-efficient food production in urban environments and eliminates the need for soil, making it adaptable to poor or nonexistent agricultural land. Targeted at helping communities to grow food closer to end users, the system improves food freshness and shelf life, while also reducing emissions and costs linked to long-distance transportation. With growing global populations and increasing pressure on water, energy, and arable land, this hydroponic solution offers a scalable and climate-resilient model for future food systems in emerging markets.

Khwezi Innovations addresses the environmental challenge of plastic waste caused by the improper disposal of disposable latex gloves. Commonly used in industrial, medical, and everyday settings, these gloves often end up in landfills and waterways, contributing to pollution and harming wildlife. In response, the company has developed a biodegradable 2-in-1 glove sanitizer that combines the functionality of a protective glove and hand sanitizer in a single, eco-friendly product. The glove provides up to one hour of protection, then peels off and dissolves in water within minutes, leaving no waste behind. Made from locally sourced organic materials in South Africa, the product supports environmental health while stimulating local green business. This solution offers a sustainable alternative to traditional gloves and contributes to reducing marine plastic pollution and landfill burden.

AdamVirgo addresses the persistent problem of illegal garbage dumping in and around townships and villages in South Africa, which leads to river pollution and marine life degradation. The proposed solution is a municipal skip bin system equipped with an AI-based reward mechanism to incentivize proper waste disposal. The system integrates facial recognition or fingerprint authentication and automated doors that open and close to regulate usage. Each time a registered user deposits garbage into the bin, the system records the waste volume and allocates reward points to the user’s mobile number. These points can be redeemed for basic goods at local retail stores, creating a direct benefit for responsible waste disposal behavior. The bin includes internal garbage sensors and tamper-proof tubing to protect electronic components, ensuring durability and scalability.

The technology developed by the team provides an energy-efficient method to treat industrial brines and leachate from hazardous landfill sites by recovering clean water, sodium sulphate, and sodium chloride through freeze crystallization. Unlike traditional distillation, which is energy-intensive and limited in effectiveness at high salt concentrations, freeze crystallization leverages the low solubility of salts at low temperatures to enable stepwise recovery of valuable by-products. The process involves cooling saline effluents to freeze water and precipitate salts such as sodium sulphate (solubility: 45 g/L at 0°C) and sodium chloride (350 g/L), which are separated and recovered. The resulting clean water is obtained from melted ice, while the salts can be reused in industrial applications such as glass and soap manufacturing or animal feed. Brine is recycled within the system, minimizing waste. This method requires significantly less energy (330 kJ/kg) compared to evaporation (2200 kJ/kg), making it a cost-effective and scalable solution for water recovery and brine management in industries producing high-salinity wastewater.

A research team at the University of Johannesburg is developing a Pure Electric Vehicle (PEV) designed to reduce environmental pollution from conventional agricultural machinery. Led by Prof. Nnamdi Nwulu and Mr. Musole I. Muheme, the initiative addresses the need for cleaner, energy-efficient alternatives in the agricultural sector. The PEV integrates advanced control technologies, including a loop controller that minimizes voltage drop and optimizes power use. With remote control functionality to support precision farming, the vehicle is tailored to the needs of small-scale agricultural operations. The solution offers a sustainable, low-emission alternative that contributes to both environmental conservation and improved farming efficiency.