UK sustainability consultancy Green Circle Solutions (GCS) has expanded into Africa with the launch of Green Circle Solutions Africa, based in Cape Town.
The new business will be led by sustainability and events specialist Gary van der Watt and will offer GCS’s carbon measurement software, ESG benchmarking tools and sustainability consultancy services across the region.
The move comes as organisations across Africa face growing pressure to understand and report their environmental and social impact. GCS Africa will initially target sectors including financial services, healthcare, sporting goods, events, exhibitions and tourism-related industries.
Van der Watt said awareness of carbon footprinting and ESG reporting in South Africa remains behind many international markets, particularly in the events sector.
“While South Africa was an early leader in event greening and sustainability forums, awareness of carbon footprinting and more detailed ESG reporting remains behind many international markets,” he said.
GCS’s software is designed to measure emissions across events and experiential activities, including areas such as staff and visitor travel, logistics, stand construction, reuse and wider lifecycle impacts. The company says the platform enables organisers to quantify Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with international standards.
The business will adapt its approach to local market conditions, where sustainability decisions are often influenced by employment, affordability, local sourcing and skills development as well as carbon reduction targets.
Van der Watt pointed to South Africa’s established culture of reusing exhibition materials as an example. Exhibition stands and panels are often reused many times, whereas equivalent assets in some European markets may be replaced after relatively few uses.
David Humphreys, founder and director of Green Circle Solutions, said: “Rather than simply importing international standards, GCS Africa will help clients recognise and build on what they are already doing well, while also identifying opportunities to improve.”
GCS Africa will operate as an independent business while using Green Circle Solutions’ technology and expertise.
