Circular Economy Forum (CEF-Cameroon)

Contrary to our current linear economic model in which we ‘take-make-consume and throw away, the circular economy offers an opportunity to use resources to their highest value and continuously re-use rather than them being thrown away. Natural resource exploitation and agriculture are the greatest contributors to Cameroon’s economy. However, these sectors are highly affected by overexploitation and climate change with a negative impact on the national economy and the well-being of local communities whose livelihood depend on these resources. To conserve the country’s resources and reduce the impacts of climate change, consumption of natural resources must be reduced and ever-more responsible production methods established.

A recent France 24 report reveals that Cameroon produces up to six million tonnes of waste yearly, out of which 600,000 tonnes are plastics, highest in Central Africa. While environmentalists recycle some, the final destination for most tonnes of plastic is the streets, gutters and oceans, as only 20% of this plastic waste is recycled. Namé Recycling for example recycles less than 1% of the plastic waste in Cameroon. There is no better time than now to put all hands-on deck to ensure that Cameroon fully transitions into a circular economy. An economy that strives to eliminate waste & pollution keeps resources in circulation for as long as possible while promoting the regeneration of nature.

The circular economy concept has increasingly gained traction in African economies, Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa for instance, launched the African Circular Economy Alliance in 2017, that is now composed of 8 African countries. This is the direction we hope to lead Cameroon towards. There has been a rising interest in environmental sustainability issues (with circular economy being considered as a gateway to achieving this) among public and private stakeholders in Cameroon. This is reflected in the massive attendance and pledges from both the government and private sector during the Game Changers Climate Commitment event at the Hilton Hotel weeks ago.

Beyond the parliament and government’s nascent interest, there is a low national awareness level, with the majority of businesses and industries not yet actively involved in green, sustainable or circular production activities. Most industrial activities are currently characterized by the intensive use of natural resources, carbon-intensive technologies, and the generation of tons of waste that degrade the environment. The majority of consumers are still mostly unaware of the circular economy, as demonstrated by poor consumer waste management patterns for example.

Objectives of CEF-Cameroon

Create awareness on opportunities that lie unexplored in a circular economy by identifying, showcasing and celebrating circular initiatives in Cameroon across different sectors.
Provide a futuristic approach for stakeholders to build and scale a circular economy by providing a platform to share insights, network, and, learn from circular economy practitioners.
Amplify climate messages and localize COP26 commitments in Cameroon.
Mobilise state and non-state actors to take concrete commitments to transition into low-carbon operating models through circular economic models.
Demonstrate how circularity in businesses and institutions could be used as a sound strategy to facilitate access to new markets, drive innovative solutions and save costs.
It was a one-day event in Douala that brought together circularity champions and stakeholders across different sectors/institutions to talk about possibilities for collective actions that could help accelerate Cameroon’s transition into a circular economy.

Event participants

Over 100 participants took part in the forum drawn from different institutions and sectors including: big companies and multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, government institutions, local authorities (city councils), civil society organisations and the media among other actors. The forum was graced by the presence of the Mayor of the City of Douala and representatives from the British High Commission Yaounde. In mre details, some of the participants/institutions that took part in this inaugural Circular Economy Forum are as listed below:

Government institutions/Local Authorities

Douala V, VI, district municipalities
Douala City Council
MINEPDED Wouri

Multinationals/Big Companies who participated

Standard Chartered Bank
Clarke Energy
Guinness Cameroon
Brasseries du Cameroon (SABC)
PriceWaterHouse
Beko Capital Advisory
Blessing Petroleum
HYSACAM

Some SMEs/CSOs who participated

ThinkGreen
Cameroon Alert System
Tek’s Global and Value Chain Services
Taku Energy
CleanCam
Plastic Bank Association des Recuperateurs du Cameroun ( ARC)
African Market and Buisness Opening (AMABO LTD)
FMS Consulting SARL
RED-PLAST
Agro Bio Energy
Fondation Villes Propres
Cry of the Needy Charity Group
ONG Let’s Do It Cameroon
Groupe GENELCAM

Exhibitors

The following companies exhibited their circularity solutions during the forum:
- Name recycling – waste plastic collection and recycling initiative
- Taku Energy – sustainable energy solutions such as power banks (made in Cameroon) and solar energy kits/appliances.
- Fondation Ville Propres – ecofriendly paving tiles made from plastic waste.
- Margo’s Mode – circular fashion initiative
- Tek’s Global and Value Chain Services – sustainable agricultural initiative

Event Activities

CEF-Cameroon 2022 was marked by the following activities:

Opening Remarks

Opening speeches from Mr. Sam Noble (Representative of the British High Commissioner) and Mr (Mayor of the City of Douala).

The Mayor, in his speech, disclosed the city’s drive in placing waste management and the promotion of a circular economy in general as a top priority in its development agenda as well as his determination and passion to support innovative initiatives taking concrete actions on the ground. Mr. Noble on the other hand could not overemphasize the importance of this inaugural forum dedicated to the circular economy and outlining the role played by the British High Commission in promoting such an initiative and being a critical partner to the Game Changers movement which he acknowledged in his speech for taking the lead to implement such timely initiative.

Spoken word video

The call to climate action spoken word video performed by Ms. Beverly Ndifoin was projected to once again demonstrate the urgency of the current situation and stimulate interest among the participants.

Keynote presentation

A key note presentation was done by Mrs Jocelyne Landry Tsonang, National Representative of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) during which emphasis was laid on the the role of the Circular economy in fostering economic development, decoupling growth from resource use, reducing waste and pollution levels and, creating job opportunities for the young generation. She touched on the three guiding principles of a circular economy which revolve around designing out waste and pollution, keeping materials in use for the longest time while maintaining its highest value, and, regenerating natural systems.

Panel discussions

The first panel discussion was moderated by Mrs Jacinda Washington Njike, senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers on “amplifying best practices in the Circular economy”. The panel was made up of Mrs. Mari-Paule Matouke from Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Theodore Muluh from Clarke Energy, Mr Tekeh Samuel from Tek’s Global and Value chain services and Mr Mandeki Marcous Mboumbang II from Clean Cameroon.
The second panel discussion moderated by Mr. Chris Nasa of Built Environment Consultancy focused on the “way forward for Cameroon’s Circular Economy”. Members of this panel included Mrs Jocelyne Landry Tsonang from the African Circular Economy Network, Ms. Ngwane Liz of Margo’s mode, Eric Franklin Kamdjo from NAMe Recycling and Lucien Yoppa from Wasteaid Cameroon.

Showcase of businesses

Businesses that have committed to the Game Changers movement were showcased at some point during the forum. Their logos and names were projected to the audience, thanking them for being a part of businesses conscious about the negative impacts of their activities and willing to make a positive change in the way they operate to enhance their transition into low carbon operating models and circular businesses. The list of committed companies showcased include: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Elecnor Cameroon, Dash Media, Standard Chartered Bank,Clarke Energy, NAMe Recycling, Margo’s Mode, CleanCam, Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute, BUNS, and Built Environment Consultancy. The British High Commission was also showcased being the main partner of the Game Changers Initiative.

Stand visitation

An important part of the forum was the visit of the circular solutions stands which were installed in the outer space of the main hall. The exhibitors explained their activities to the stand visitors and how it aligns with the principles of the circular economy.