The finalists (in no particular order) are:
Some of the finalists (as well as some of the entries that did not make it into the finals but impressed the judges) will be in attendance to present their entries at the CLIP Innovation Conference: STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa in Cape Town on 4 and 5 December 2019. Winners in each category will be announced at the conference on 5 December.
The conference, which will be attended by scientists, environmentalists, conservationists, and policymakers, is co-hosted with the Sustainable Seas Trust and will be looking at STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) solutions to the marine litter problem in South Africa.
"We were pleased with the number and quality of entries submitted for these inaugural awards," says STOMP project manager Duncan Pritchard, of Green Corridors, the NPO tasked with managing the awards in South Africa. "The entries were fairly diverse with some truly innovative ideas being showcased. It certainly demonstrates that South African's are thinking about the plastic challenges we face, and are looking at what could be the next world-changing innovation to solve the crisis. That is extremely positive for us going forward."
Commenting on the judging process, Fiona Preston-Whyte, CLiP country lead from the UK's Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) which leads the CLIP programme says, "As scientists, we were looking for innovative, sustainable solutions which contribute to reducing or preferably eliminating plastic as a waste. The entries are high quality and creative and speak of the innovative spirit of South Africans.”
To view the finalists, click here.