Litter4Tokens, a South African initiative transforming waste into community empowerment, has been nominated for the prestigious EarthShot Prize!
South Africa (17 June 2024) – South Africa is renowned for its vibrant and dedicated charitable organisations, tirelessly working to make a positive impact. Among these inspiring groups is Litter4Tokens, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to reducing ocean-bound waste and empowering communities through innovative recycling and waste management programs.
Today, we celebrate a significant milestone for Litter4Tokens as it has just received a nomination for the esteemed EarthShot Prize, shining a light on its remarkable contributions to environmental sustainability and community upliftment.
The EarthShot Prize, inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” challenge and launched by Prince William in 2020, is a prestigious global award aiming to identify, highlight, and amplify innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. With a focus on repairing and regenerating our planet through bold, creative solutions, the EarthShot Prize awards £1 million (R23,800,000) to each winner of the five “Earthshots,” ambitious and universal goals set for 2030.
Litter4Tokens has been nominated in the Earthshot “Build A Waste-Free World” category, placing it among the world’s leading environmental initiatives.

Since its inception in 2015, Litter4Tokens has made a profound impact by preventing over 2.2 million bags of waste from reaching the ocean. The initiative transforms waste into a valuable resource – tokens that can be redeemed for goods, helping to feed and clothe families without involving monetary transactions.
This innovative model has driven substantial environmental change and also fostered economic empowerment.
As a partner of Brownie Points and The Good Economy, Litter4Tokens has created over 1,800 jobs across South Africa, empowering communities and promoting sustainable waste management practices in regions such as KwaDukuza, Etekweni, Hillcrest, Port Elizabeth, East London, Richards Bay, Mpumalanga, and Estcourt.
Brownie Points, a key collaborator in Litter4Tokens’s success, has been instrumental in supporting the initiative through The Good Economy Campaign in partnership with the Social Employment Fund. This collaboration has enabled Litter4Tokens to expand its reach and amplify its impact, creating a positive ripple effect across communities.
Pascale Du Toit, CEO and Founder of Brownie Points expressed her excitement: “We are so thrilled that Litter4Tokens got nominated for the Earthshot Prize 2024! Litter4Tokens deserves to be recognised for their innovative model, empowering communities through circular waste economies. We are proud to be a partner and to have employed over 1,800 waste collectors since October 2022.”
With such a significant nomination, Litter4Tokens is a shining example of the incredible impact South African charities can achieve, inspiring us all to support and celebrate their work towards a brighter, cleaner future.
To learn more about Litter4Tokens, visit their website at www.litter4tokens.org.
