By Esther Onyegbula

OceanHub Africa (OHA), in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), has rolled out a $120,000 pan-African challenge aimed at supporting innovative and science-driven solutions to tackle plastic waste across the continent.
The initiative, tagged Call for Bold Ideas in Plastic Circularity, is designed to identify and scale ideas from scientists, innovators and startups that can move beyond the concept stage into commercially viable solutions with measurable environmental and socio-economic impact.

According to the organisers, the challenge seeks to accelerate practical business models capable of addressing Africa’s growing plastic pollution crisis, with a target of enabling the recycling of at least 490 tonnes of plastic waste and creating over 150 sustainable livelihoods in coastal and urban communities.
The programme will be delivered through OceanHub Africa’s venture builder framework, which is structured to bridge the gap between promising early-stage ideas and market-ready enterprises. Selected participants will receive a share of up to $120,000 in funding to support early scaling, alongside technical assistance, business mentorship and access to market entry networks and corporate partners.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director of OceanHub Africa, Herland Cerveaux, said the goal is to ensure that breakthrough ideas do not remain confined to research or pilot phases but evolve into scalable businesses with tangible environmental and economic outcomes.

He noted that the partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation provides not only financial backing but also access to strategic networks that can fast-track market readiness and long-term impact.
On his part, Senior Director, Recycling Value Chains at The Coca-Cola Foundation, Jeff Denby, stressed the need to combine environmental protection with economic inclusion, explaining that supporting locally driven innovations creates opportunities to address plastic pollution while strengthening communities and generating livelihoods.

The partners said the initiative is coming at a critical time, as projections indicate that Africa’s solid waste generation could exceed 200 million tonnes annually by 2030, with plastic waste accounting for a significant share. They added that the continent continues to face disproportionate environmental and economic consequences of plastic pollution, underscoring the need for scalable, science-based and entrepreneurial solutions.

Applications for the Call for Bold Ideas in Plastic Circularity will close on February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. SAST. Interested innovators, startups and researchers can apply through the designated online platform.
OceanHub Africa is a pan-African ecosystem catalyst supporting ocean-impact ventures and promoting the transition to a sustainable blue economy, while The Coca-Cola Foundation focuses on strengthening communities through initiatives in water security, recycling value chains, economic prosperity and community development.