Circular Economy in Practice: German Delegation Visit to Private Sector Champions in Ethiopia
How can plastic waste become an engine for jobs, climate action, and innovation?
In early September, a German Government delegation visited Kubik, a pioneering recycling company turning plastic waste into durable, low-carbon building materials. Their story shows how German Cooperation through the NatuReS programme strengthens the link between waste workers, businesses, and policymakers in building Ethiopia’s circular economy. Led by the German State Secretary Mr Jochen Flasbarth, the delegation comprised visitors from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Embassy in Ethiopia.
Kubik is a member of the Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa, a multi-stakeholder partnership facilitated by NatuReS on behalf of the German government. Active since 2020, the partnership empowers stakeholders along the solid waste value chain to protect natural resources from pollution and prevent loss of economic resources. Over the past year alone, Kubik sourced more than 218,000 kg of plastic waste from individual collectors and small and medium-sized enterprises. 81% of this came from partners trained by GIZ NatuReS. These efforts not only prevent plastics from polluting the environment, but also create reliable income opportunities for waste workers, many of whom are women.
German cooperation with the private sector
During the visit, the German delegation emphasised that cooperation with the private sector is central to Germany’s development priorities. “We are committed to increasing local added value, creating jobs, and supporting a socially compatible, gender-equitable and environmentally friendly transformation of economic systems,” one delegate noted. Kubik, in turn, expressed appreciation for the support received through NatuReS: “We are eager to contribute to our shared mission of multi-stakeholder collaboration and strengthened market links along the plastic value chain. This is not just about dialogue but structured collaboration towards common goals – creating market opportunities that align with societal and environmental needs.”
The delegation’s visit reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working together with the private sector and local stakeholders to achieve sustainable transformation. NatuReS’ stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships are a great tool for this: By embedding principles of shared responsibility, long-term commitment, and collective action towards common goals, we can leverage the private sector’s unique capacities – technological, innovative, operational and financial – more effectively than conventional models. For Ethiopia, companies like Kubik demonstrate how circular economy models can create jobs, empower women, and contribute to climate action.