PACKAGING SECTOR OVERVIEW
WRAPPING UP THE YEAR By Koketso Mamabolo
A wider consciousness of our environment is leading many consumers to be more aware of not only what they are consuming, but also the packaging it comes in. This has resulted in more manufacturers following a sustainable approach to packaging. In turn, the packaging industry has itself had to be at the forefront of recycling efforts. The paper packaging industry, in particular, contributes the most to consumption, but leads the way in material collected for recycling. Glass continues to lead the way in terms of the percentage of waste redirected from landfills to be recycled. “Through the returnable system in conjunction with recycling, glass is the packaging that is most diverted from landfill in our country. South Africa has one of the most sophisticated returnable systems in the world, by reusing glass packaging, carbon emissions are reduced significantly,” proudly states the Glass Recycling Company’ website. On the plastics front, in their annual report for 2020/2021, Plastics SA noted that the Covid-19 pandemic saw the need for more packaging as greater attention was paid to hygiene and food safety standards, a trend that may continue for years to come as the virus shows little signs of slowing down.
SOURCES reportlinker.com thepaperstory.co.za fibrecircle.co.za plasticsinfo.co.za theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za
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