By Lebogang Mashala
Skubu enables customers to refill essential goods, including cooking oil, maize meal, sugar, and cleaning products, using their containers, thereby minimising plastic waste and offering significant cost savings to lower-income households.
South Africa has launched its first refill store, Skubu, in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. This innovative store, developed by Sonke (Pty) Ltd. in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), aims to reduce single-use plastic packaging as part of the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund.
Skubu allows customers to refill essential goods, such as cooking oil, maize meal, sugar, and cleaning products, using their own containers. This approach not only minimises plastic waste but also offers significant cost savings for lower-income households.
The opening of Skubu marks a significant step forward in integrating circular economy principles into the retail sector. It showcases how sustainable business practices and innovation can have a profoundly positive impact on communities. Additionally, the store addresses food security by enabling lower-income citizens to access high-quality products in smaller quantities at more affordable prices.
Research-Backed Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Professor Linda Godfrey, the principal researcher at the CSIR and leader of Circular Innovation South Africa, a DSTI initiative hosted by the CSIR, stated, that Skubu is an excellent demonstration initiative that illustrates how circular economy principles can be applied through collaboration.
“Our aim is to focus on the national system of innovation, which examines how a country generates and utilises new ideas to enhance technology and stimulate economic growth. This effort involves bringing universities and science councils closer to the private sector to help de-risk and scale circular interventions,” said Godfrey.
Sonke (Pty) Ltd is a technology start-up that designs, manufactures, and manages automated refill stations enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT). Sonke’s exclusive backend software provides complete traceability of stock movements throughout the supply chain, from receipt to dispatch, machine restocking, and sale to the consumer.
Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, the DSTI Deputy Director-General for Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships, emphasised how this initiative harnesses scientific and economic innovation to promote the circular economy.
The DSTI initiated the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund, which is administered by the CSIR. Through this fund, the CSIR offered technical support to Sonke by identifying optimal sites to maximise the effectiveness of the Skubu machines. Additionally, the CSIR analysed data collected from the IoT-enabled refill stations to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a successful and sustainable proof of concept in the market.
Environmental and Economic Impact
“As a government, we are adopting a dual approach through the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund initiative, which aims to protect the environment while leveraging science, technology, and innovation to encourage enterprise development and create jobs,” said Muofhe.
These refill stations not only eliminate up to 100% of single-use plastic packaging but also allow consumers to save up to 50% by standardising the price per litre across different refill sizes, making every purchase a smart choice.
