After completing Chemical Engineering studies in Germany, Susanne Karcher started her company EnviroSense CC (an Environmental Consultancy) in Cape Town in 1999 (www.envirosensecc.co.za). Her company specialises in the planning, development and facilitation of tailor-made governmental, industrial/commercial and residential “Integrated Resource and Waste Management” programmes ultimately geared towards pollution prevention.
An improved environmental performance, financial savings, job creation from waste opportunities and better overall operational efficiency through resource efficient cleaner production application is further augmented by the introduction of Circular Economy principles and strategies.
To this end, Susanne is a qualified RECP (resource efficiency and cleaner production) end-use level trainer with the NCPC (www.ncpc.co.za) as well as a founding member of the African Circular Economy Network (www.acen.africa ). In addition Susanne provides voluntary mentoring services as a member of the globally operating Circular Economy Club (www.circulareconomyclub.com). Since 2010 she is also the coordinator and Chair of the Southern African e-Waste Alliance (sa.ewastalliance.co.za) and contributed to the recent development of both the WEEE and lighting waste Industrial Waste Management Plans.
Most recent work activities include (but are not limited) to a series of GIZ funded and WRF facilitated multi-stakeholder e-waste management projects in Ghana including EPR based policy development, capacitating of WEEE trainers and the development of alternative, financially viable and socially responsible business models for informal sector workers.