Open to all businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, and academics living in South Africa, the challenge aims to support sustainable consumption and the development of new circular business models for the reuse and refill of plastic goods, specifically those used in the online retail environment.
As such, applications should address issues relating to product design and packaging and seek to improve how, why and when products are consumed.
In addition to milestone-based seed funding, successful candidates will receive:
- mentorship
- technical support for product testing and development
- investor pitch training, and
- an opportunity to present their solution to Unilever for potential future collaboration.
Preola Adam, sustainability manager at Unilever South Africa, says, "Plastic is a versatile and useful material; but with concerns growing around its impact and overuse, now is the time to bring together bright minds, big ideas and disruptive thinking to workshop how we can use it in a more appropriate and sustainable manner."
To apply, applicants must submit their ideas by no later than Sunday, 15 May and ensure that their solutions are suitable for the South African market.
This opportunity forms part of Global Alliance Africa's Innovation Exchange Challenges and is aimed at supporting Unilever in achieving its goals of:
- halving the amount of virgin plastic used in its packaging
- reducing its plastic usage by more than 100 000 tonnes, and
- collecting and processing more plastic packaging than is sold.
Marisa Naidoo, knowledge transfer manager South Africa at Global Alliance Africa, concludes, "Partnerships are a powerful means of driving growth and innovation, and with that in mind, we're excited to collaborate with Unilever and be a catalyst for sustainable change in the South African market."
For more information, visit
www.innovationexchange.ktn-global.org.