5 minute read
News round-up
from ReSource August 2021
by 3S Media
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
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Colgate’s first recyclable toothpaste tube is now available in South Africa.
The oral care brand has launched its new Naturals toothpaste range, with packaging comprising a recyclable plastic tube inside a recycled carton box.
Most of today’s toothpaste tubes are made from sheets of plastic laminate – usually a combination of different plastics – sandwiched around a thin layer of aluminium. The mix of materials makes it impossible to recycle through conventional methods.
The Colgate Naturals range changes this in South Africa by using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) – the plastic used to make milk jugs and other plastic bottles already widely recycled.
The tube has received recognition from APR (Association of Plastic Recyclers) and RecyClass (an initiative that works on improving recyclability of packaging), which set recyclability standards for North America and Europe respectively.
The Colgate Naturals range is available now at all major retailers in South Africa. The three variants include Charcoal, Hemp Seed Oil and Aloe Vera, which contain ingredients that are 99.7% of natural origin to make the paste optimal for everyday protection.
Consol glass joins the battle against ocean pollution
Consol has launched a multifaceted campaign to raise awareness around the pollution of oceans and encourage a switch from single-use to reusable packaging.
Scientists assert that, unless we act soon to remedy the pollution of oceans, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish by the year 2050.
“By making better choices today, we can create a better tomorrow,” says Dale Carolin, senior executive: Marketing and Commercial, Consol. “By choosing sustainable packaging such as glass, we can be part of this important change and give our oceans a chance to recover. It’s a simple choice that can lead to oceans of change.”
Consol will be joining hands with several organisations to raise awareness and encourage action against pollution of our oceans. Initiatives will include working with credible organisations to initiate monthly beach clean-ups on South Africa’s coastline. In an average beach clean-up, dozens of plastic bottles are collected, and these can be recycled and reused.
A key element of the ‘I Changed 2050’ campaign is the launch of Consol’s 2050 Sleek Bottle, which is not only stylish but promises to be endlessly refillable and easily recycled.
Used oil generators urged to recycle responsibly
As June marked National Environment Month, protecting the ecosystems fell firmly in the spotlight. Of particular importance was ensuring that hazardous waste does not pollute the natural environment.
Used lubricating oil is a hazardous waste that, if irresponsibly dumped, can severely contaminate our water resources. One litre of used oil can contaminate a million litres of water. Used oil contains harmful compounds such as iron, tin, copper, zinc, as well as many other hazardous organic molecules.
The Recycling Oil Saves the Environment (ROSE) Foundation – an industry body that has been championing the responsible collection and recycling of used oil for 27 years – is calling on businesses that generate used motor lubricant oil, to become agents of change and ensure that they do their part to protect the environment by responsibly collecting, storing and recycling the used oil they generate.
The foundation says the safe disposal of hazardous waste is a critical issue and the legislation in place means that responsible waste management is no longer merely a good thing to do – it is a necessity.
DIGITAL RECYCLING PLATFORM WINS BIG
Joburg-based digital recycling platform Kudoti was announced as one of five winners of Nestlé’s 2021 Creating Shared Value (CSV) Prize – winning a cash prize of US$40 000 (about R568 000).
Nestlé says the winning teams were selected for their innovative recycling impact through technology.
Kudoti, which is Zulu for ‘in the trash’, provides a digital platform to help waste management and recycling companies optimise their operations through the use of data collection tools.
The cloud-based platform digitises and automates waste management operations from start to finish through SMS interactions and webbased interfaces.
Boost for recycling as bottle labelling trial signals success
A groundbreaking trial that renders plastic bottles with selfadhesive labels fully recyclable promises positive spin-offs for the environment and plastic producers who have until November to comply with section 18 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008).
Until now, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles with adhesive labels have hampered South African recycling processes, because the glue from the labelling has discoloured the recyclate.
This has meant that discoloured recycled PET (rPET) from those bottles could not be repurposed into high-quality, clear plastic beverage bottles, and could only be used to produce a limited range of products.
Post-consumer PET bottle recycler Extrupet trialled a new wash-off label adhesive in April in conjunction with PETCO – which showed more than satisfactory results. Plastic producers are set to benefit from the new technology as it would help them comply with new government legislation on extended producer responsibility.
Renewable energy accounts for 7% of SA’s total energy supply
As each country pledges its own targets to reduce the production of traditional fuels and turn to ‘greener’ energy sources, how much does each country currently rely on fossil fuel, renewable and nuclear energy sources?
Research has found South Africa relies on coal more than any other country in the world, while generating only 7% from renewable sources.
A study by energy tariff comparison platform Utility Bidder revealed that Singapore relies on fossil fuels more than any other country. While being the third most reliant nation on fossil fuels, South Africa also uses the highest proportion of coal in the world – standing at 73% of its total supply.
