OceanHub Africa, Coca-Cola Foundation Announce $120,000 Pan-African Call for Science-driven Solutions to Plastic Waste

DikenOnwuamaeze

OceanHub Africa (OHA), in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), has announced a $120,000 Pan-African challenge aimed at uncovering innovative, science-driven solutions to plastic waste across the continent.

Titled the “Call for Bold Ideas in Plastic Circularity,” the initiative invites scientists, innovators, and startups from across Africa to submit ideas capable of scaling beyond concept stage into impactful, measurable, and commercially viable solutions.

A press release issued by OHA Media Contact, Mr. Ashley Reynolds, said that the challenge is a response to the escalating plastic pollution crisis by accelerating practical solutions and business models that could transition from early ideation into market-ready applications.

Reynolds said: “Through this effort, the partners aim to enable the recycling of at least 490 tons of plastic waste while creating more than 150 sustainable livelihoods in coastal and urban communities across Africa.”

He said that the Call for Bold Ideas is designed to bridge the gap between promising ideas and viable enterprises, and would be delivered through OCH’s venture builder framework.

“Selected participants will receive a share of up to $120,000 in funding to support early scaling, alongside technical guidance and business mentorship to help translate their concepts into commercially sustainable ventures.

“The programme will also connect innovators with market entry networks and corporate partners, ensuring that supported ideas move beyond the laboratory or pilot stage into real-world adoption and measurable environmental impact,” he said.

Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director of OceanHub Africa, Mr. Herland Cerveaux, noted that the goal is to ensure that breakthrough ideas do not remain confined to research environments but are developed into scalable businesses that deliver tangible environmental and economic results.

Cerveaux emphasised that the partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation would provide not only financial support but also access to networks that can accelerate market readiness and long-term impact.

The Senior Director of Recycling Value Chains at The Coca-Cola Foundation, Mr. Jeff Denby, highlighted the importance of combining environmental preservation with economic inclusion.

Denby explained that empowering locally driven ideas with funding and structured guidance would create an opportunity for African innovations to address the plastic crisis while generating livelihoods and strengthening communities.

He said: “The urgency of this initiative is underscored by projections that Africa’s solid waste output will exceed 200 million tons annually by 2030, with plastic waste constituting a significant portion of the challenge.

“As the continent experiences disproportionate effects of plastic pollution, the need for scalable, science-based, and entrepreneurial solutions has become increasingly pressing. This challenge is positioned to harness innovation and enterprise to address these realities in a practical and sustainable way.”

Applications for the “Call for Bold Ideas” will close on February 15, 2026 at 23:59 SAST and interested innovators, startups, and researchers should submit their entries online.

The initiative, according to Reynolds, represented a significant step toward driving scalable solutions that address Africa’s mounting waste management challenges while fostering a more sustainable circular economy.

OceanHub Africa is a pan-African ecosystem catalyst that supports ocean-impact ventures and promotes the transition toward a sustainable blue economy while the Coca-Cola Foundation works to strengthen communities around the world where The Coca-Cola Company operates and where its employees live and work.