FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
Vinylloop gets the go-ahead as new Vinyls Packaging Pro
Members of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) voted unanimously in favour of forming a separate producer recovery organisation (PRO) within the association, whose specific focus will be to manage the collection and recycling of post-consumer and post-industrial vinyl packaging waste.
E
xplaining the
fact that the volumes in this market was
set by government for the collection and
rationale for
considered to be too small to justify the
recycling of all PVC (vinyl) packaging that is
forming a new
costs of collection and transport. As part
used in the market over the next 5 years.
PRO for the vinyls
of our strategy for dealing with packaging
packaging industry,
waste submitted to Government’s Section
packaging industry, it will be VinylLoop’s
Monique Holtzhausen,
18 Industry Waste Management Plan,
duty to:
CEO of SAVA, explains
SAVA is currently developing a unique
• ensure the EPR scheme is audited
Monique Holtzhausen, that CEO of SAVA
70% of the local
PVC market goes into
collection model for household packaging waste that bear the Number 3 polymer
As the PRO representing the vinyl
by government, • c ollect and submit data to the SA Waste
non-packaging products that are used
identification code. This plan includes
Information system (including how much
in long-term applications such as pipes,
working closely with municipalities and the
PVC vinyl packaging is collected and how
window frames and doors, flooring, cables,
entire value chain.
much is successfully recycled), • put buyers and sellers of vinyl packaging
ceilings or in the healthcare industry. "Some of these products last in excess of 150 years. It is therefore not the
VINYLLOOP OPERATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES EXPLAINED
waste in touch with each other, • keep records of identified products; • work with municipalities to develop
responsibility of these SAVA members to
VinylLoop operates
fund the collection and recycling activities
under the SAVA banner,
for vinyl packaging that occupies less than
but will be registered as
2% of the overall market. The decision
a separate non-profit
• integrate informal waste collection;
was therefore taken to form VinylLoop
company (NPC), with
• e stablish secondary markets for recycled
for packaging members, funded by
its own board, bank
packaging members and headed up by
account, membership
Adri Spangenberg.”
Adri Spangenberg
forms and invoicing
the necessary collection and recycling infrastructure
vinyl packaging waste. The new EPR regulations came into
system in order to facilitate the bi-
effect on the 5th of May 2021 and all the
PVC (VINYL) AS PACKAGING MATERIAL
annual audits by government and avoid
packaging streams in South Africa now
administrative confusion.
have 6 months to comply. By 5 November
For more than half a century PVC (or
“Companies who sign up to become
vinyl) has been used on a global basis
members of VinylLoop will automatically
manufacturers, importers, brand owners
to meet specific functional food and
also become members of SAVA and will
and retailers to either belong to a PRO or to
beverage packaging needs. It suits many
therefore reap the benefits of belonging to
have formed their own independent
different food types, offering good clarity
both associations, e.g. the SAVA Product
EPR scheme.
and physical properties, including heat
Stewardship Commitment, LCA studies,
“The vinyls industry has been given the
tolerance, controllable gas and moisture
being awarded the Vinyl Product Label,
target of a 6% recycling rate to be achieved
vapour transmission capabilities and
having access to the latest international
between 5 November 2021 – 5 November
excellent sealing performance.
studies and scientific information,
2022. It is therefore crucial to get as many
networking with fellow industry members
role-players as possible involved in these
SIZE OF THE PVC PACKAGING MARKET IN SOUTH AFRICA
etc,” Spangenberg explains.
early stages, as we are now in the process
South Africa manufactures roughly about
pay an annual membership fee, VinylLoop
ultimately not only serve the interests of
12 000 tonnes of vinyl packaging per month
members will be required to pay a monthly
the individual members and our industry,
that goes into bottles, thermoformed
levy based on the declared amount of vinyl
but also those of our country and the
punnets, pharmaceutical blister packs,
packaging (in tonnages) they produce over
environment for generations to come,”
cling film etc. This represents less than 2%
the next six months. Initially this amount
Spangenberg concludes. •
of the total PVC market in the country.
will be R100 per tonne until 5 November
“Although vinyl products are readily
However, where normal SAVA members
of an adjusted membership levy. These
been a formal collection and recycling
funds will be used to set up the necessary
programme for post-consumer and post-
infrastructure to ensure VinylLoop
industrial vinyl packaging waste due to the
members reach the targets that have been
June 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
of developing an industry-led plan that will
2021, after which members will be informed
recycled in South Africa, there has never
38
2021 it will be compulsory for all converter,
SAVA’s VinylLoop www.savinyls.co.za/vinylloop
