Household awareness and perceptions of circular economy development in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A pathway to sustainable development

At a national level, South Africa has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable development, particularly through its efforts to establish a circular economy (CE). However, household-level understanding of CE remains underexplored, primarily due to limited awareness of its relevance. This study employs a descriptive research design and implements a systematic approach to guarantee statistical representativeness and data reliability. This study investigates household knowledge of CE and identifies key factors influencing its development by analyzing data collected from a survey conducted in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The research seeks to fill a critical knowledge gap by assessing the extent of CE understanding at the household level and identifying key factors that either facilitate or hinder its development. The findings reveal that 70% of participants were unfamiliar with the term CE, and 72% identified a lack of awareness as a significant barrier to its adoption. Nonetheless, 86.8% of respondents exhibited a positive attitude toward waste sorting, reflecting an openness to CE practices. Income constraints were highlighted as a challenge, with respondents noting that limited financial resources hinder their ability to purchase eco-friendly products, which are often costlier. To address these gaps, the study recommends intensified awareness campaigns using diverse media channels to enhance household understanding and participation in CE practices. These efforts could play a pivotal role in advancing the African Circular Economy Alliance (AECA), South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and achieving alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063 by promoting sustainable and inclusive development at the household level. • Awareness of the circular economy in the Limpopo Province remains significantly low. • Awareness campaigns can effectively enhance understanding of the circular economy. • Circular Economy can potentially promote environmental conservation in the province. • Circular Economy can stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.