A national innovation challenge is inviting South African students to transform plastic waste into businesses, unlocking entrepreneurship, environmental solutions and economic opportunity across universities nationwide.
The Mr Price Foundation, in partnership with Universities South Africa, launched the Waste Innovation Challenge at the Durban University of Technology, positioning plastic waste as a catalyst for enterprise development and innovation.
The initiative calls on students and recent graduates from all 26 public universities to develop commercially viable solutions that convert plastic waste into products, services or technologies. By embedding the programme within universities, the challenge aims to turn academic learning into real-world businesses that create both environmental and economic value.
South Africa’s waste economy presents a significant opportunity for innovation. In 2023, the country recycled approximately 431,800 tonnes of plastic, yet only 27.5% of collected plastic was processed into usable recycled materials. With over 100 million tonnes of general waste generated annually, much of it still ends up in landfills, highlighting the need for scalable solutions.
“Economic resilience grows when young people can turn real problems into viable businesses,” said Octavius Phukubye, Executive Director at the Mr Price Foundation. “This Challenge is designed to build green entrepreneurs. It connects opportunity to practical skills, credible pathways, and solutions that can scale in the real economy.”
The programme will support up to 400 participants with training in circular economy principles, waste-to-value business models, product development and pitching. From this group, 20 teams will advance to an intensive bootcamp, with finalists presenting their innovations at the EDHE National Finals later this year.
Dr Edwell Gumbo, Director of Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education at Universities South Africa, said, “The Waste Innovation Challenge shows what entrepreneurship in higher education can deliver when it is linked to real market needs. It gives students a structured pathway to build solutions with commercial potential.”
Five winning teams will share R245,000 in prize funding, alongside mentorship, business development support and exposure to potential investors and industry partners, helping transform ideas into viable enterprises.
“The Foundation’s role is to bring the ecosystem together,” Phukubye added. “We connect youth potential to capability, opportunity and enterprise. We back solutions that are rooted in local realities. We back solutions that can scale.”
Applications are open to students and recent graduates through the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education programme, with national recruitment taking place across all public universities.
