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...]
Promoting ‘green consciousness’ by recognising SA’s eco-champions
As part of its aim to drive ‘green consciousness’ among consumers at large and integrate a ‘green agenda’ into the future of residential property, Pam Golding Properties once again sponsored the Eco-Angel Award at the Eco-Logic Awards 2019. Established by Enviropaedia in 2011, these awards invite South African individuals and organisations to submit their ecological … [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...]
Partners to boost innovative recycling villages
World Environment Day saw the building of three new recycling villages and the upgrade of two more in KwaZulu-Natal. WILDLANDS recycling villages, which are at the forefront of recycling and the recycling circular economy in South Africa, are part of a well-established WILDTRUST programme. In celebration of World Environment Day, a day that encourages citizen-action to … [Read more...]
PET plastic bottles crest SA’s recycling wave
As the global movement away from single-use plastics gathers momentum, South Africa continues to make significant strides in its PET plastic recycling efforts. According to the latest statistics released by national industry body PET Recycling Company (PETCO), 98 649 tonnes of post-consumer PET plastic bottles were recycled last year alone, saving 612 000 cubic metres of … [Read more...]
Beating plastic pollution and recognising a fallen ocean hero
The South African plastics industry will team up with various industry partners to celebrate World Oceans Day on 8 June. Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics SA stresses that every person has a responsibility to keep our oceans clean. “Research has shown that 85 % of the litter found in oceans is from land based sources. Our activities this week and throughout … [Read more...]
Operation #Cleanup Durban a huge success
The South African plastics industry has one again proved that we don't merely pay lip service when it comes to looking after the environment - we act on our promises! Under the guidance of Plastics|SA's Sustainability Director, Douw Steyn, supported by the KZN Marine Waste Network and various other organisations and institutions, more than 300 tons of litter were removed … [Read more...]
Next phase in plastic bag free trial announced
During the trial, which was launched in November 2018, over 100 000 single-use bags were saved from going out into the environment as customers opted for affordable, reusable shopping bags. After a six month trial in four of its Western Cape stores, including the launch of their first plastic bag free store, Woolworths confirms that it will be rolling out its new low-cost, … [Read more...]
Plastics packaging: the journey to designing for the environment
Climate change and sustainable development are two of the biggest issues facing society today and are perhaps foremost in our minds. It is increasingly important for companies to reduce the environmental impacts of products and services through their entire life cycle. Those companies failing to address environmental performance in product design and development will find it … [Read more...]
Single use plastic items to be banned in England
Plastic straws and drink stirrers, and cotton buds with plastic stems will be banned from sale and use in England from next April, the government has confirmed. The move, which has been in the offing for more than a year, is hoped to vastly reduce the litter and other environmental impacts of the nearly 5bn plastic straws currently used each year in the UK, along with more … [Read more...]
Water and wine in the spotlight at SAPICS 2019
Recognising the importance of water as a life-sustaining resource and reflecting its commitment to the critical drive for environmentally sustainable supply chains, SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, has put water management in the spotlight at the upcoming SAPICS Conference. This event, which is Africa’s leading knowledge sharing and networking event … [Read more...]
Dare to declare capitalism dead – before it takes us all down with it
A system based on perpetual growth cannot function without peripheries and externalities. There must always be an extraction zone – from which materials are taken without full payment – and a disposal zone, where costs are dumped in the form of waste and pollution. As the scale of economic activity increases until capitalism affects everything, from the atmosphere to the deep … [Read more...]
Eco awareness leads to award recognition for Sea Point hotel
Having previously made headlines for their industry-leading water conservation efforts, the hotel is once again pioneering environmental sustainability and responsibility, having received the ECO Proud/ECO Excellent Status Award. As part of the Dream Hotels & Resorts group, The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel is the first recipient of the award after the implementation of a … [Read more...]
