One of the planet’s most pressing problems is the incorrect disposal of waste. About 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated annually, according to the World Bank, with conservative estimates being that at least 33% of that isn’t managed in an environmentally safe manner. With the majority of municipal solid waste coming from homes, Global Recycling Day on … [Read more...]
Recycling tips for the December holidays
The holidays can be surprisingly heavy on waste, so it pays to be mindful of yours these holidays. Not only will you reduce your environmental footprint, but you can also support waste collectors by ensuring that your recyclables are clean and separate. December is often a time for people to do a bit of a declutter at home or at the office. If it’s time to clear out those … [Read more...]
The wooden economy and the world’s ultimate renewable
For millennia, trees have provided mankind with fuel, food, fibre and medicine from their fruit, flowers, roots, wood, leaves and branches. In fact, many things we use daily are connected to wood. Printer paper, chewing gum, planks, viscose fabric, vitamins, pallets, toilet tissue, toothpaste, and detergents all have a link back to wood. Wood is made up of cellulose, … [Read more...]
Eco-friendly charcoal production to boost SA’s water security
The global outcry against the use of braai charcoal produced from rainforest trees, which leads to devastating forest degradation primarily in South American and African countries, is boosting the demand and production of eco-friendly charcoal certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The eco-friendly charcoal is made from ideally suited hardwood invasive alien … [Read more...]
Blue Sky Awards launched in SA for young researchers
The local leg of the Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award has been launched by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). The 2020-2021 round is the third edition of this award, organised by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), to which PAMSA belongs. It invites young students and researchers in wood and fibre-based … [Read more...]
Growing green sectional title schemes
Rising utility costs, paired with competitively priced sustainable tools to supplement municipal electricity and water use, mean that sectional title schemes are becoming a more viable marketplace for the green building sector. While each scheme has unique characteristics, their expenses are often centred around meeting similar needs, namely: electricity and water use, … [Read more...]
Plans for an industry-managed waste plan applauded
The plastics and packaging industries of South Africa have welcomed the announcement made by Ms Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, to scrap the existing Section 28 plan for developing an Industry Waste Management Plan for the paper and packaging industry. Although the development of this plan has already been more than three years in the … [Read more...]
Compostable alternatives to plastic
In events, single-use or disposable plastics have been especially useful in offering convenience, speed, scale, hygiene and affordability. Think of an event with thousands of attendees, and how quickly and safely they can be catered for with pre-packaged meals, disposable cutlery in sterile packaging, and disposable coffee cups (made from paper, but lined in plastic so that … [Read more...]
Now for responsibly sourced till paper
While the till slip is a relatively insignificant bit of paper in the hands of a shopper, for retailers globally the scale of this paper consumption is huge. The heavyweight impact of Woolworths’ latest ‘responsibly sourced’ commodity announcement to replace their till slip paper with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper involves 211 tonnes of paper per year. The … [Read more...]
Big trees first to die in severe droughts
National forests whose names come from their large, majestic trees—such as Redwood National Park and Sequoia National Park in California—may need to rethink their brands as droughts increase in frequency and severity in many regions around the world due to climate change. New research published this week in the journal Nature Plants finds it’s the large trees that suffer most … [Read more...]
New study confirms Earth’s sixth mass extinction has begun
We are currently witnessing the start of a mass extinction event the likes of which have not been seen on Earth for at least 65 million years. This is the alarming finding of a new study published in the journal Science Advances. The research was designed to determine how human actions over the past 500 years have affected the extinction rates of vertebrates: mammals, fish, … [Read more...]
Get recycling to make a difference in your community
Do you love where you live? Is your environment clean, healthy and free of litter? Are you helping to improve the appearance of your community? Even in highly built-up and poor areas, each of us can make a difference as individual. Every little bit helps – each of us can make a contribution to looking after the environment by recycling packaging materials and other … [Read more...]
Women in waste making the difference
Often when we think of waste, our minds merely conjure up images of dirty, smelly rubbish heaps and ugly litter along our streets. But there is much more to the topic - waste no longer needs to be a dirty word. Women are showing the way and Women’s Day is a good time to tell some of their stories. The annual Women’s Day on 9 August celebrates, not only the historical role of … [Read more...]
