On a sprawling campus in Pretoria, scientists, engineers and researchers are hard at work in South Africa’s biggest and best-resourced laboratory complex. Hunched over microscopes, peering into petri dishes and meticulously recording test results, they have a shared vision: to improve the quality of life for all South Africans, as sustainably as possible. 

For almost eight decades, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has harnessed some of the most brilliant minds to drive innovation in agriculture, energy, chemicals, health care, manufacturing, mining and defence.

In recent years, Africa’s leading science and technology research organization has also developed a series of innovations to tackle plastic pollution, which is taking a mounting toll on the environment.

“Everything that we do as CSIR ought to contribute towards improving the quality of life of the people of South Africa,” said CSIR’s Chief Executive Officer, Thulani Dlamini, in an interview with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “That's the litmus test of whether we are really making an impact.”

For its efforts to develop and apply solutions to plastic pollution, CSIR has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation , one of the United Nations’ highest environmental honours.

“Science-based, data-driven solutions are essential for environmental action to be effective,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “The outstanding work undertaken by South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research reminds us that innovation is crucial if humanity is to forge a more sustainable future for people and planet.”

Innovation to improve lives 
Following the end of World War II, South Africa recognized that scientific research and innovation was needed to spur its economic recovery and industrial development. Thus, through an act of parliament, the country established CSIR in 1945.

Throughout its history, CSIR has played a vital role in providing rigorous evidence to inform decision making.

In 2022, it was the first to use Pathways , a software application developed by Pew Charitable Trusts and the University of Oxford to evaluate local strategies to reduce plastic pollution.

Its findings contributed to a report aimed at policymakers, which concluded that South Africa could reduce plastic pollution by 63 per cent by 2040 with interventions across the plastics value chain. Those include limiting the demand for plastic, using alternative materials and increasing waste-collection.

“There is no single solution to effectively address plastic pollution in the country,” said Dlamini. “It will require both upstream interventions – such as reducing demand and coming up with alternatives – as well as downstream interventions, such as improved waste collection, disposal and increasing recycling capability.”

Tackling plastic pollution 
Affordable, flexible and durable, plastic has transformed everyday life and brought about many benefits to society, including in health care, construction, packaging and energy.

However, plastic generates 1.8 billion tonnes of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions a year, 3.4 per cent of the global total. Less than 10 per cent of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest is buried, burned or leaks into the environment.

South Africa’s rising population and increased consumption means that, without urgent action, plastic pollution in the country is set to almost double to 865,000 tonnes in 2040 from 491,000 tonnes in 2020, according to CSIR data .

To help reduce that toll, CSIR has developed a compostable plastic. Outside experts say that for very specific applications in which plastic waste is hard or nearly impossible to collect, such as agricultural mulch films, biodegradable plastic may be a useful solution. Products made from CSIR’s plastic alternative can biodegrade within 180 days or, combined with organic waste, turn into compost within 90 days, leaving no toxic residues.

Not all “biodegradable” plastic is what it is purported to be, however.

Thanks to equipment provided by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Government of Japan, CSIR hosts the only laboratory in Africa with the capacity to test plastics that are promoted as biodegradable. Not only does this enhance transparency but the process can also identify any problematic types of new material.

The council has also created the #SolvePlasticsAfrica Hub, an open-source online platform that can help foster solutions, knowledge-sharing and collaboration between private and public sector partners across the continent.

“We don't want to do research that only ends up in the lab. We want to see this being translated where it makes an impact. We want to see the commercialization and scaling up of some of the solutions that we've developed,” Dlamini said.

CSIR employs about 2,400 staff, of whom 1,600 are scientists, researchers and engineers. The council’s cutting-edge research has led to numerous breakthroughs outside of plastics, including the development of a stem cell technology that could hold the key to finding cures to some of Africa's most prevalent diseases. Other highlights include techniques to genetically engineer pearl millet to boost its nutritional value and a high-resolution mapping tool to manage South Africa’s forests and monitor their biodiversity.

“We are not just about making materials or blending polymers,” said Maya Jacob John, a principal researcher at CSIR. “In the long run, [our goal] is solving problems, including plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.” 

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)Champions of the Earth honours individuals and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations.