Industry News
The paper crisis in South Africa Is there a looming paper crisis and what can be done about it?
T
he paper industry was faced with shortages earlier in 2022, this was largely due to supply issues.
The paper industry relies on recycled paper to a large degree to produce paper. COVID and the lockdowns that impacted on the country meant that paper waste was not being brought to the recyclers and collection of waste paper from schools and offices due to lockdowns and remote working meant that there was far less waste paper available for collection. Coupled with the lack of supply, local recyclers were looking to the export market as the prices offered internationally for waste paper was far higher than that offered domestically by the paper manufacturers. The cost of paper is rising due to the increased demand and the lack of material. We are unlikely to completely deplete our paper supply, however it may well become an expensive form of packaging. During the pandemic and even now, there was a move to online buying, all of these are usually packaged in boxes or if you order from some chains, the groceries are bagged in paper. This, though undoubtedly better for the environment, means that there is a huge demand.
20
my office magazine
August 2022
