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Co-ordinated by: Leigh Bester – 021 488 4026, leigh.leigh@inl.co.za, Special Projects, Independent Newspapers, Cape

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POLYCO, the Cape Town-based PolyolefinR e c y c l i n g C o m p a n y ( N P C ) , w a s established in 2011 by the South AfricanPolyolefin Plastic Packaging Converters toreduce the amount of plastics bearing thepolymer identification codes 2, 4 and 5 goingto landfill. This is done by aiming to increaset h e s u s t a i n a b l e c o l l e c t i o n , recycling, recovery and beneficiation of polyolefin plastics.

The association’s chief executive officer, Mandy Naudé, recently presented adetailed report on their business and the stateof the local polyolefins recycling industry totheir shareholders, some of the leading pack-aging converters in South Africa.

“This past year has undoubtedly been atough year for the plastics recycling industryin South Africa and around the world. Whilelower virgin resin prices had an impact inSouth Africa, local recyclers also needed tocontend with loadshedding, expensive electricity costs, water shortages and ageneral downturn in the economy during2015,” Naudé said.

However, all is not doom and gloomaccording to POLYCO, as 177 000 tonnes ofpolyolefin plastics were recycled this pastyear, positively contributing in excess of R1.7 billion to the country’s GDP.

The total plastics recycling industry also contributed in excess ofR2.85 billion to GDP in 2014 and created over 53 000 employmentopportunities.

“This is something of which we can all be immensely proud! Wemust also bear in mind that recycling is a commodity-based business which is cyclical in nature.

While the current conditions might be tough, we have developeda clear-cut plan of action that will help us build a much-neededrobustness into the industry, so as to be ready for when the marketturns again,” Naudé said.

POLYCO is using the tough conditions to take an even closer lookat their business model and, where necessary, make changes inresponse to what the market needs.

By working closer with recyclers, they are finding ways of addressing and solving some of the biggest stumbling blocks theyare facing,such as dirty post-consumer materials (due to a lack of effective separation-at-source initiatives), ageing and inefficientequipment, untested quality and an inconsistent value-chain. In order

to create a strong, sustainable circular economy which eliminateswaste, POLYCO is urging brand owners to become involved with theirefforts and initiative.

“The ability to create a sustainable circular economy lies to a largeextent in the hands of our brand owners, as they are the ones whoultimately control the products being offered to the consumers.

They hold the power to positively influence the design ofpackaging for recyclability, specify the recycled content of packaging and determine the specification of packaging materialsused,” she said. To this end, POLYCO is currently actively workingon implementing value-chain projects with key brand owners that willassist them in achieving their sustainability targets of increased recycled content or recycling rates, using quality recycled material.

This will positively impact on the recycling sector by creating arobust market demand for quality products.

The association has also identified other focus areas that will continue to drive their operations in the coming year, including:

1. Bringing about a change in the public’s perception regardingthe value of recyclable material and creating a shift towards a

conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle their plastics throughemploying a consistent education campaign on social media and thepress;

2. Growing grow collection and recycling volumes by building keyindustry networks and relationships in the recycling sector;

3. Launching a Packaging Bank Mobile Swop Shop pilot projectin impoverished communities in South Africa (January 2017), whichwill demonstrate to Government that the packaging industry and thebrand owners take their responsibility seriously.

4. Growing the POLYCO footprint by encouraging more converters to sign up as members.

Concluded Naudé: “We are grateful for the tremendous supportthe industry has shown us this past year.

Our members in particular are the true heroes in the story, as theyare not simply paying lip service to their sustainability promises, butare actively working to create a sustainable future for our planet andour industry. As an industry and an association, we look forward towhat is to come, knowing that we will continue to grow and evolveas long as we embrace the move to circular economy thinking”.

Mandy Naudé (Chief Executive Officer: POLYCO).

POLYOLEFIN PLASTICS

POLYCO focuses on building a strong recycling value chain – one piece at a time

Driving Circular Economy Thinking