The inaugural Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards are aimed at recognising South African designers who have adopted a sustainable design approach and fostered ethical practices in the fashion industry. They are open for nominations until August 18. Aside from the student award, all nominees must have been in business for at least one year and be able to demonstrate ethical … [Read more...]
Fishing for plastic on Amsterdam’s canal cruises
It’s not fish they’re hunting on their cruise along one of the Dutch capital’s most famous tourist attractions — it’s plastic. With eco-tourism booming around the world, the canal cruises run by the Dutch group Plastic Whale are reeling in big business. “It’s a completely other way of visiting Amsterdam,” said Plastic Whale founder Marius Smit. “Obviously you’re on the … [Read more...]
Defusing Southeast Asia’s e-waste timebomb
In a busy road-side shop in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh, 19-year-old Pich plies a dangerous but lucrative trade. Amid mountains of computers, televisions, DVD players, mobile phones, and cables, Pich runs a mini-garage of about 1,000 square foot that processes about three tonnes of electronic waste a day. Reusable or recyclable materials are sold off, and the … [Read more...]
Working together for a world without plastic waste
Each year, millions of people around the world are encouraged to refuse single-use plastics as part of “Plastic Free July”. According to the organisers of this campaign, their aim and vision is to see a world without plastic waste. The global plastics industry say they have been advocating and working towards these same goals for the past 25 years. “We are the first to … [Read more...]
South Africa’s carbon tax to ensure zero waste to landfill
South Africa's recently introduced carbon tax will ensure zero waste to landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well boost investments for low carbon alternatives, said Bertie Lourens, CEO of Wasteplan — a Cape Town based on-site waste management company. Lourens was speaking at the 2019 SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, conference held recently … [Read more...]
South Africa’s 2019 recycling champions announced
On the back of a 6% year-on-year increase in the recycling of PET plastic bottles, SA's national industry body has unveiled its 2019 recycling champions. These people and organisations are making strides in sustainability at grassroots level. The annual awards were made across 11 categories, with Western Cape winners scooping nine awards, followed by Gauteng with two, and … [Read more...]
Petition to stop waste polluting Cape Town waters
Locals are coming together to stop the polluting of rivers and canals in Cape Town by creating a petition to punish litterbugs more harshly, with the aim to reach 10 000 signatures. These natural areas are the city’s lifeblood and Capetonians feel it should be a criminal offence to use these fragile ecosystems as cheap and convenient waste disposal systems. Every year … [Read more...]
First carrots, then sticks to fight the climate crisis, says Barbara Creecy
In her maiden ministerial budget speech on Thursday night, Environment, Forestries and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy announced that she had given her department two years to produce a clean audit, while also working to eliminate the take-make-use-dispose model that governs South Africa. And she challenged Parliament to stop handing out plastic water bottles every … [Read more...]
Government sued for air pollution in Mpumalanga coal belt
South Africa’s government is being sued for failing to crack down on some of the world’s worst air pollution emitted by power plants operated by Eskom and refineries owned by Sasol. The case was filed in the Pretoria High Court by groundWork, an environmental-rights organisation, and the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action, according to a statement sent by their … [Read more...]
Campaign calls for a ban on cigarette butts in SA
The National Council Against Smoking is working with Greenpeace Africa to raise awareness about the plastic in cigarette butts as part of Plastic-free July. They are leveraging on the global campaign, encouraging people to rethink the way they use plastic, by starting a campaign on their VUMA.EARTH platform, which calls for a ban on cigarette butts in South Africa. “It may … [Read more...]
Levels of uranium found in Gauteng hair samples
A novel new study using hair snipped from customers at barber shops across Gauteng has found how residents living in and near gold mining areas are exposed to elevated environmental levels of uranium, which eventually finds its way into their bodies. The study, Human Exposure to Uranium in South African Gold Mining Areas Using Barber-Based Hair Sampling, aimed to uncover … [Read more...]
Pick n Pay launches ‘nude’ fruit and vegetable wall
Pick n Pay on Monday launched a ‘nude’ fruit and vegetable produce wall - a dedicated plastic and packaging-free zone - in 13 stores across the country as part of a trial to measure customers’ readiness to switch from pre-packaged food to loose products. Retail Executive, Commercial at Pick n Pay, Paula Disberry, said plastic waste remained a concern for many customers, and … [Read more...]
Fuel most foul: purgatory times for oil majors
As the ravages of climate breakdown barrel at exponential speeds across the planet, the fossil fuel conglomerates are facing unprecedented pushback. The anger is mostly coming from teenagers, who will bear the brunt of the devastation. But the protests are being supported by rising calls for fossil fuel executives to be tried for crimes against humanity, by strident … [Read more...]
