Statistics from South Africa’s longest-standing plastics producer responsibility organisation indicate that the country’s PET plastic recycling rates are recovering after the lockdown regulations resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to figures released at the PET Recycling Company’s (PETCO) annual general meeting in June, 2.1 billion PET bottles were diverted from … [Read more...]
Vaal communities protest dirty steel plant
Long-suffering communities in Sharpeville and Bophelong in the Vaal area have gathered outside ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited’s (AMSA’s) main steel plant in Vanderbijlpark today to protest against ongoing pollution, non-compliance with environmental laws, failure to engage meaningfully with fence line communities and unclear plans to decarbonise AMSA’s operations. The … [Read more...]
Communities call out questionable oil and gas projects
It has been two years since The Green Connection, under its Who Stole Our Oceans campaign, started working with coastal communities whose livelihoods are being threatened by offshore oil and gas projects. The initiative is focused on protecting the oceans, particularly through opposing offshore oil and gas. In addition, and critical to the campaign, is empowering coastal … [Read more...]
Mining threatens fisheries in the West Coast
Coastal mining along the West Coast is expanding at an alarming rate, increasingly threatening the environment and livelihoods of small-scale fisheries and coastal communities. Currently there are many different companies that have applied for or been allocated permits and right for oil and gas exploration as well as prospecting or mining on coastal land, the beaches, in the … [Read more...]
Big Tobacco, clean up your mess!
Protect our Next advocacy organisations have launched a campaign calling for Big Tobacco to clean up its mess called ‘Susa Udoti Wakho - #yourbuttsstink.’ The 2022 World Health Organisation (WHO) theme - “Tobacco: Threat to our environment” - focuses on the damaging impact tobacco has on the planet throughout its lifecycle, including deforestation, erosion, water pollution … [Read more...]
Communities speak out against Wild Coast seismic surveys
In the run-up to next week’s highly contentious court hearings to stop Shell’s seismic surveys and any further bids to explore the Wild Coast for offshore oil and gas, communities in the Eastern Cape are speaking out against traditional leaders who, at the end of April, following secret meetings with Minister Gwede Mantashe (in February 2022), agreed to support oil and gas … [Read more...]
How new EPR law benefits recycling in SA
As companies navigate the new mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) landscape, a leading recycler in the plastics value chain has revealed the unexpected ease in managing its new reporting and compliance requirements as a producer. One of the biggest recyclers of PET plastic bottles on the African continent, Extrupet, has been guided in its journey by … [Read more...]
Sanitising trolley wipes repurposed into furniture
Sani-touch’s used pre-saturated sanitising trolley wipes have been recycled and repurposed into jungle gyms, benches and other outdoor furniture that can be used again and again to support a circular economy. The first retailer to recycle Sani-touch’s sanitising wipes, Shoprite is now closing the loop and creating a circular economy. The first eco-friendly jungle gym made … [Read more...]
Slumbering with a clear conscience
As a sustainability pioneer with decades in the field, it is so exciting to experience well-known brands moving into the world of sustainable business. Of course this is what educated and conscientious shoppers are demanding. No longer is just the ‘green fringe’ reading labels and asking for production details, but the mainstream of our population also want to shop products … [Read more...]
Cape Town to host largest cannabis expo in Africa
The biggest cannabis event on the continent is returning to Cape Town. Despite a 2-year pandemic break, this dynamic industry has grown rapidly and now The Cannabis Expo is preparing for its biggest expo yet in the Mother City in line with Governments renewed focus on this flourishing industry. At his SONA address earlier this month, President Ramaphosa announced his plans … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurs invited to showcase green innovations
GreenCape, in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Invest Cape Town and The Business Hub, invites innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy innovation business ideas to enter the 2022 GreenPitch Challenge before 31 March 2022. Enter your green economy innovation business idea to stand a chance of pitching to a panel of esteemed judges at a … [Read more...]
Teaching regenerative agriculture to poor farmers in Zanzania
The Hand in Hand project trains farmers in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, as agri-entrepreneurs, raising incomes and protecting the local environment in the fight against climate change. Boeing and Hand in Hand have been teaming up since 2018 to help communities in Tanzania work their way out of poverty and start businesses – transforming thousands of lives in the … [Read more...]
Most of SA’s banks steering clear of new oil pipeline
On Tuesday 1st February, after years of delay, France’s Total and China’s CNOOC Ltd signed the Final Investment Decision (FID) to proceed with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. While heralded by the project proponents as a major breakthrough, the project is yet to secure all of the required financing. Now, four out of five of South Africa’s largest lenders … [Read more...]
