December 2022

Repurposing, replacing, reusing, and reshaping are key parts of a circular economy, and it is the responsibility of big business the drive this concept. No more is it acceptable to succeed at all costs. There is renewed focus on sustainability, and those that invest are those that thrive.

At Sappi, there was a need to reuse a machine that was lacking capacity. No newspaper orders as a result of the pandemic left it dormant. The company quickly went about developing a new product which could run through the machine and solve a new problem in the market. It was quick and quality, and resulted in major success for Sappi and its clients.

At Dogon Group Properties, an “old brown building” on Bree Street in Cape Town has been demolished and is set to be developed, by Lurra Capital, into the first biophilic building in Africa. Instead of abandoning the area, repurposing the corner block is breathing new life into the area with a 24-storey beacon of what is possible.

For the EduPower Skills Academy, part of the Daly Group, the repurposing is more of an upskilling as it helps to train and develop young South Africans out of work, preparing them for a career in the BPO sector.

GAIA, the infrastructure investment company, is creating a structure where funders of vital projects can exit successfully, before recycling their capital in new projects. This drives the ongoing rollout of vital developments in South Africa.

This type of attitude towards making things work, whatever the input, separates the good from the great. If you can take something that has been used and enjoyed, recycle and repurpose, and it make it useful once again – whatever it might be – then you are already two steps ahead.

Get in touch and tell us more about your company’s circular endeavours. We’re online at LinkedIn.