EcoBuiltConnect, a Cape Town-based climate-tech startup, has launched South Africa’s first blockchain-powered marketplace for surplus building materials and reduced industry waste.
The platform will enable builders, suppliers, and recyclers to trade leftover or unused materials, such as timber, bricks, and fittings, on a decentralised system. All transactions are recorded on-chain, offering traceability, proof of reuse, and environmental accountability.
According to EcoBuiltConnect, the marketplace aims to tackle South Africa’s growing construction waste problem, where over 30% of landfill content comes from building sites. The blockchain system ensures that materials can be traced from source to reuse point, helping users track environmental savings and reduce emissions linked to overproduction.
“We’re combining blockchain and sustainability to make material reuse profitable and transparent,” said Thabo Molefe, co-founder and CEO.
“This isn’t about hype. It’s about solving a real and growing problem in African cities.”
Beyond traceability, the platform also helps small contractors and informal builders access affordable supplies, connecting them to architects, developers, and infrastructure projects looking to source responsibly.
The startup’s solution aligns with broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and comes as governments and investors increasingly demand sustainable practices across sectors. EcoBuiltConnect says it will soon integrate a carbon-tracking feature that quantifies emissions saved by each reuse transaction.
EcoBuiltConnect plans to roll out pilot programs with construction cooperatives in Johannesburg and Nairobi later this year. The startup is also in talks with green building councils to integrate its carbon-tracking system into certification frameworks.
With this move, EcoBuiltConnect joins a small but growing group of African startups applying blockchain beyond finance, focusing instead on real-world infrastructure challenges with measurable impact.
