Taking Care of Business (TCB) has been named a finalist for the 2026 CSI Legacy Awards in the category of Best Green Impact Initiative, recognising its groundbreaking work in environmental sustainability and social empowerment. Co-founded by Tracey Gilmore, the COO and circular economy innovator, TCB has spent over 15 years creating pathways out of poverty while protecting the planet. Tracey, an Ashoka and Schwab Foundation Fellow, is passionate about building inclusive, green economies that place both people and the environment at the centre of growth. Her leadership has enabled TCB to form powerful partnerships with South Africa’s largest retailers, divert over 22 million items from landfill, and support thousands of informal micro-entrepreneurs to establish sustainable circular businesses.
Founded in 2010, TCB is a social enterprise that transforms retail and manufacturing waste into business opportunities for unemployed South Africans. Its model combines environmental stewardship with economic inclusion, addressing the twin challenges of high unemployment and growing waste. Through the RESELL, REPAIR, and REMAKE programmes, the organisation diverts more than 2 million items from landfill each year, including fashion, homeware, appliances, and surplus textiles, while processing 172 tonnes of electronic waste. This innovative approach not only reduces environmental harm but also equips participants with practical business, financial, and life skills to run successful green micro-enterprises.
The heart of TCB’s impact lies in its 2-year Enterprise Development programmes. Participants—primarily women and youth—receive holistic support through the organisation’s “Heart, Head and Hands” model. This framework nurtures resilience, knowledge, and practical experience, enabling entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods and support their families. On average, each participant supports over four dependents, multiplying the social and economic benefits across communities. By turning discarded materials into income-generating assets, TCB demonstrates that tackling environmental and social challenges simultaneously is both feasible and impactful.
Tracey Gilmore explains that TCB was inspired by the urgent need to address South Africa’s waste crisis and high unemployment. “We saw an opportunity to turn retail and manufacturing waste into a resource for economic inclusion,” she says. “By repairing, repurposing, and reselling donated goods, we tackle two challenges at once: reducing landfill waste and creating pathways out of poverty.” Her philosophy underscores that unemployment is not just an economic problem but a human one, affecting confidence, relationships, and hope. Through TCB, she aims to restore dignity and provide individuals with the tools to shape their own futures while contributing to a greener, more inclusive economy.
The environmental impact of TCB’s work is substantial. Millions of items are diverted from landfill each year, reducing fashion and electronic waste, extending the life of products, and promoting upcycling. Equally important is the organisation’s role in fostering entrepreneurship. By creating green business opportunities, TCB empowers participants to generate sustainable income, build financial independence, and invest in their families’ futures. The combination of social and environmental impact positions TCB as a global example of circular economy innovation.
Being named a CSI Legacy Awards finalist is a testament to the dedication of TCB’s team, its partners, and its participants. Tracey notes, “Every item we divert from landfill is a step toward a greener planet, and every entrepreneur we support is a story of hope and resilience.” The recognition amplifies the organisation’s message that environmental sustainability and economic inclusion are not only compatible but mutually reinforcing. With the award spotlighting their achievements, TCB is motivated to continue innovating, collaborating, and expanding its circular economy initiatives, proving that social and environmental progress can go hand in hand.
Through TCB, Tracey Gilmore has shown that tackling poverty and protecting the planet can be part of the same mission, transforming lives, communities, and the environment for a brighter, more sustainable future.
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