MAKGABO VAN NIEKERK | What young green entrepreneurs need from industry

A few weeks after the 11th Green Youth Indaba concluded, I continue to reflect on what I saw and heard there. I left inspired by the determination, creativity and ambition of South Africa’s young generation. These young people are hungry for knowledge, to contribute, to be taken seriously and to be recognised as valuable contributors to their communities, the economy and the planet.

Working at the intersection of industry,recyclingand the circular economy, we have a responsibility that extends beyond building systems for today. We must also help develop the people, skills and businesses that will sustain those systems into the future. The Green Youth Indaba was a powerful reminder that South Africa’s transition to a circular economy will depend on young innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and community leaders who are ready to turn ideas into action.

The indaba demonstrated one example that stayed with me: a young woman from Limpopo who transforms agricultural waste left after harvesting mielies into biodiesel. Through the work, she is creating employment opportunities while addressing a waste challenge within her own community. One of the biggest barriers facing young green entrepreneurs is access to information This is not innovation as an abstract concept.

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It is practical problem-solving driven by people who understand their communities and are creating solutions based on real needs. University students, researchers and self-taught entrepreneurs demonstrated that innovation comes from many different places and experiences. A youngentrepreneurfrom Limpopo has developed a business around the “wonder bag”, a low-cost cooking solution made from recycled fabric that reduces reliance on electricity.

The product is being exported to international markets, demonstrating that sustainable solutions developed locally can have global relevance. What stood out most was not only the innovation itself but also the commitment behind it. These entrepreneurs are not waiting for opportunities to appear; they are creating solutions, building businesses and addressing challenges in their communities.

South Africa, and the world, cannot achieve green economy ambitions through the efforts of one sector alone. Meaningful progress requires government, industry, academia, NGOs and communities working together towards shared objectives.

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