Africa taking steps to breathe easy

Air quality is seldom thought about until it becomes a problem. For a growing number of Africans, however – as well as the industries and regulators serving them – air quality is moving up on the agenda, particularly as pollution levels intensify.

The latest data from IQAir, released in its eighth annual World Air Quality Report in March 2026, makes for sobering reading. Analysing data from nearly 9,500 cities across 143 countries, the Swiss air quality technology company found that only 14% of global cities met the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) guideline for airborne particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micron metres (PM2.5). These tiny particles in the air pose significant health risks by penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and causing as many as 4.2 million premature deaths globally each year.

A staggering 91% of countries and territories exceeded the WHO threshold of 5µg/m³ for annual average PM2.5 concentration. Wildfire smoke, intensified by climate change, was identified as a major driver of deteriorating conditions globally, with record biomass emissions contributing around 1,380 megatonnes of carbon in 2025 alone.

Africa is not immune. Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo featured in the top-five most polluted countries globally, with annual average PM2.5 concentrations of 53.6 and 50.2µg/m³ respectively – far exceeding the WHO guideline. The problem is particularly acute in fast-growing urban and industrial centres, where traffic, mining, energy generation and construction collectively degrade air quality at pace.

In South Africa, air pollution was estimated to have caused 25,800 premature deaths in 2019 alone. The country is the 12^th-largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, with roughly 70% of low-income households still relying on polluting fuels. A landmark 2022 ruling by the South African High Court found that poor air quality in the Highveld constitutes a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights – a signal that regulatory and social pressure is mounting.

There is, however, a remarkable bright spot. According to IQAir’s 2025 data, the world’s cleanest location is Nieuwoudtville – a small town in the Northern Cape – recording an annual average PM2.5 concentration of just 1.0µg/m³. It is a striking contrast that speaks to SA’s vast geographic and environmental diversity.

A MARKET ON THE MOVE

The business response to Africa’s air quality challenge is gathering momentum. According to analysis by Mordor Intelligence, the African air purifier market is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of just over 6% to reach US$156.8 million by 2030. SA is expected to dominate this growth, driven by its expanding industrial base, rising urbanisation and increasing regulatory pressure on emissions.

The dominant technology is High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration, which captures 99.97% of particles sized 0.3 microns and above. HEPA filters are increasingly in demand – not only for industrial applications but also in hospitals and clinics, where African nations are investing significantly in healthcare infrastructure. One example is the US$750-million African Medical Centre of Excellence project in Abuja, Nigeria. This 500-bed hospital is expected to bring substantial demand for medical-grade air purification systems.

Regulatory tailwinds are also accelerating adoption. Uganda introduced the National Environment (Air Quality Standards) Regulations in May 2024, imposing strict emission limits on industrial facilities, backed by a permit and compliance programme. Kenya followed in December 2024 with its own Environmental Management and Coordination (Air Quality) Regulations, creating a framework that requires industries to monitor and report emissions regularly and introduces penalties for non-compliance.

INVESTMENT FOLLOWS OPPORTUNITY

Global filtration leaders are taking the African market seriously, as evidenced by the investment flowing into local production capacity.

In March 2025, Mann+Hummel – widely regarded as one of the world’s leading filtration specialists – opened a new manufacturing facility in Kempton Park, just outside Johannesburg. The 3,200-m² plant marks a significant milestone for the German-headquartered, family-owned company, which began its African journey in 2016 when it identified SA as the continent’s largest automotive market. Its expansion from a sales office to a distribution centre – and now to full local production – reflects a deliberate long-term strategy.

“This plant in South Africa is a key milestone in Mann+Hummel Africa’s business growth strategy,” said president and CEO Kurk Wilks at the opening ceremony. “Aligned with our ‘in the region, for the region’ approach, we produce our products close to, and flexibly for, our customers in Southern Africa.”

At peak capacity, the facility will produce 600,000 filtration units per year – primarily filters for commercial vehicles and passenger cars – with operations running across three shifts. Solar power will feature prominently in day-to-day operations, and the company is applying 3R principles (reduce, reuse and recycle) to minimise environmental impact. The facility is designed to serve as a strategic hub for Sub-Saharan Africa, with ambitions that extend well beyond the initial product range.

Meanwhile, in the broader filtration sector, recent merger and acquisitions activity signals that global players are repositioning for growth. In September 2025, Thermo Fisher Scientific completed its acquisition of Solventum’s purification and filtration business for approximately US$4 billion – a transaction that included a facility in Pretoria. The deal strengthens Thermo Fisher’s bioproduction and industrial filtration offerings, and the company’s South African footprint gives it a meaningful presence on the continent as demand for high-performance filtration in pharmaceutical, medical and industrial settings continues to rise.

CLEANER AIR AHEAD

IQAir CEO Frank Hammes framed the challenge succinctly in the 2025 World Air Quality Report: “Air quality is a fragile asset that requires active stewardship to protect public health.” That stewardship is now attracting capital, regulation and manufacturing capacity in equal measure across Africa.

For SHEQ professional, the convergence of tightening air quality standards, growing public health awareness and expanding local production capability represents an ideal opportunity to specify better solutions, source them more efficiently and contribute to an environment where clean air is no longer a luxury.