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| INDUSTRY ISSUES & LEGISLATION |
| Misconceptions around BPA cleared |
The use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food containers and specifically in baby bottles has given rise to many chemical scare stories, urban myths and web-based rumours which have spread like wildfire in recent months. In order to provide the public, media and interested parties with an unbiased viewpoint that is based on scientific evidence and well-researched, documented facts, Plastics|SA has prepared a position paper to clear the misconceptions on BPA. (This is the first of a series of position statements and fact sheets on plastics as a material and the plastics industry).
To Download the Position Paper on Bisphenol A, click here. |
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*Research and Development Incentive on offer to the Industry:
| RECENT LEGISLATION NEWS |
The Dept of Environmental Affairs has published amendments to the list of waste management activities which have or may have a detrimental effect on the environment, for comment. The amendments refer to waste management activities which require EIA's as part of an application for a waste management licence.
(Notice 1113 in Gazette no 33880 dated 14 December 2010)
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The Dept of Environmental Affairs has published proposed regulations regarding the phasing-out and management of ozone depleting substances in South Africa, for comment by interested parties. The draft regulations refer to CFCs, HCFCs, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, various halogenated products, as well as herbicides/pesticides and organic solvents containing halogenated substances.
(Notice 12 in Gazette no 33925 dated 14 January 2011)
The Dept of Labour has published the following bills and explanatory memoranda thereto, for comment:
- Labour Relations Amendment Bill, 2010
- Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill, 2010
- Employment Equity Amendment Bill, 2010
- Employment Services Bill, 2010
The above bills refer extensively to regulation of contract work, sub-contracting, labour brokerage, and employment agencies.
(Notice 1112 in Gazette no 33873 dated 17 December 2010) |
*ENERGY MANAGEMENT within the plastics manufacturing sector. What are the benefits?*
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The Kyoto Protocol?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was produced at the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro (also known as the Earth
Summit)
The UNCED sought to address the issue of climate change and pursue the possibility of limiting worldwide
GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions. In order to combat the increase in GHG, a number of solutions were
proposed such as decreasing carbon dioxide emissions and encouraging afforestation and reforestation
initiatives.
Although a step in the right direction, the Convention is non-binding and has no enforcement provisions or
mandatory limits. Within a year of its entry into force, governments had begun negotiations on a
protocol that would place stricter demands on states to reduce GHG emission.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and came into force on 16 February
2005.
South Africa ratified the UNFCCC in August 1997 and acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in March 2002.
The Kyoto Protocol, sets mandatory limits on the emissions of six GHGs by industrialised countries. While the targets vary from nation to nation, the aim is to reduce the combined emissions by 5% of the 1990
levels over the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012.
Suggested reading:
http://www.wwb.co.za/wwb/view/wwb/en/page8890
(Info courtesy of Webber Wentzel Bowens) |
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Are you R.E.A.C.H. ready? |
REACH, the new Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals was enforced in
June 2007 and streamlines and improves the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union
(EU).
The main aims of REACH are:
- to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by
chemicals;
- to promote alternative test methods; and
- to encourage the free circulation of substances on the internal market and enhance competitiveness and
innovation.
REACH aims to make industry responsible for assessing and managing the risks posed by chemicals and providing
appropriate safety information to its users.
Make sure that you are familiar with the objectives of REACH, and its implications.
Useful downloads:
R.E.A.C.H. - a presentation by E Snyman, Product Safety Regulatory Specialist; SH&E Centre, Sasol Group Services
Useful links:
www.hse.gov.uk/reach
ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
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The Federation and its international networks |
In order for the Federation to discharge its key objectives, it must keep itself well informed and maintain its
international networks and partnerships. One way to do this is to visit the “K” Show every 3 years.
Many South African manufacturers visit this exhilarating and amazing show for similar reasons (along with some 242
000 other trade visitors!).
“K” is without equal internationally filling 18 halls with exhibitors covering virtually every aspect
of the plastic industry and supply chain. It covered not only the conventional applications of plastics from
commodity polymers, but more interestingly the application of engineering polymers, high-performance polymers and
ultra-polymers – more plastics with more performance. We especially effected a number of successful meetings
with Plastics Associations from other countries to share concerns and success stories and refresh our alliances.
David Hughes attended a CIPAD (Council of International Plastics Associations Directors) meeting which was a follow
up to the annual CIPAD meeting held in August 2007 and the Global Plastics and Global Litter Group meetings held
in early October 2007. PFSA is a key stakeholder and contributor in these organizations and we benefit hugely from
our active participation. In the Plastics Global Litter Group PFSA has been assigned the Africa Region regards
partnering with other countries on common matters [plastic bag bans especially] and we are already partnering wit
Egypt, some West African countries and East Africa.
Our alliance with India is of particular value due to common concerns and practices. In CIPAD a number of Global
Association issues have been identified as matters of concern to CIPAD members and David Hughes / PFSA has been
assigned the task of coordinator of Global Litter matters. Certainly a feather in the PFSA cap.
Plastics are rapidly taking over applications previously only performed by metals. Modern plastics have superb
engineering capability, high temperature performance in concert with corrosion-free benefits and durability as
well as outstanding chemical resistance and inertness. Construction materials have wonderful weathering properties.
Barrier plastics offer the widest range of protection for food and pharmaceuticals. And more! The application of
modern day plastics is almost unlimited. PFSA’s Executive Director David Hughes and Environmental Manager
Douw Steyn were there.
It is not possible to share all our findings in this article. Our intentions were to identify new trends and
especially opposite environmental / recycling aspects, certain engineering applications and automotive
applications. In the environmental context we were particularly interested in how polystyrene and PET are
processed in recycling, and also in the plastics degradability and bio-mass aspects that are currently essential
strategic industry topics. Just immersing oneself in an “innovative plastic world” for four full days
was rewarding in itself. It was particularly interesting to see just how much plastic is used in the modern
automobile and in aerospace ensuring a reduction in fuel usage and therefore in CO2 emissions.
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What does "sustainability" mean in the Plastics context?
As head of the World Commission on Environment and Development, Gro Harlem Brundtland helped coin the term "sustainable development" in the organization's landmark 1987 report, "Our Common Future".
The report helped define sustainable development as:
"...satisfying present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs."
Plastics are currently made from oil, oil is a non-renewable resource.
Sustainability isn't about not using a resource,
its about not using up a resource.
Renewable means that a resource can be readily re-created.
This means that the resource is usually naturally occurring.
Recycling it reduces landfill requirements. |
Sustainable means that the resource isn't used up either, because it is renewable, or because the resource is fully
recyclable and recycled.
Plastics can significantly improve its sustainability through its ability to be recycled into a variety of
products over and over again.
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| In Defence of the Plastic Bag |
Download the LCA of Degradable Plastic Bags Paper
This paper presents background information on the types of degradable polymers and results from a
streamlined life cycle assessment that compared degradable polymers and alternative materials such as HDPE, LDPE,
PP, Kraft paper and calico. The paper concludes with a checklist for use in selecting degradable polymers.
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Download In praise of Plastic. Why an oil-sucking, landfill-clogging, non-biodegradable, it's-everywhere material is so good for the environment. Really.
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| Facebook to make Plastics more popular |
Social networking sites like Facebook will be used in a US web campaign early next year touting the benefits and
sustainability of plastics.
The US Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) plans to launch the campaign in response to product bans,
legislative scrutiny and campaigns by activists questioning the safety of plastic products and plans to establish
a page on the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia and video site YouTube as well as enlist celebrity spokespersons
to promote the benefits of plastics. A communication tool kit will also be developed for the industry.
The campaign has four main objectives: to position plastics as a material of choice; gain “balance” in
media coverage; promote the plastics industry’s contributions to a sustainable world; and dispel myths and
discredit junk-science claims.
The goal of the new plan is to increase the public favourability of plastics by five percentage points a
year.
Courtesy of Mike Verespej / PRW.com
BPF (British Plastics Federation) launches Plastipedia and plastics "Facebook" |
The British Plastics Federation has launched its new website featuring an industry ‘facebook’ plus an exciting new tool called Plastipedia – an on-line plastics encyclopaedia.
The website takes the industry into the plastics equivalent of social networking. Plastbook will facilitate an exchange of experience between personnel in the industry. It will also provide a facility to ask and provide answers to particular questions which could lead to business development opportunities for the respondents, said the BPF.
The tool covers polymers, additives, processing technologies and products and will feature animations of processes.
Skilled Labour should not be allowed to go to waste |
We are constantly being approached by past members of the Industry who have become "victims of the current economic circumstances" in South Africa, in search of employment opportunities. Most of these people have invaluable technical and artisan skills and it would be a sad waste if these skills were to go to waste in an industry where we constantly seek to address the serious "skills shortage" we face at the moment .
The Plastics Federation keeps an updated database of Candidates and Vacancies in the Industry, in the hope that companies and job seekers can be matched up, thereby providing a service to our Industry. If you would like to know more about potential employees, or If you would like to add your name or vacant position to this list, please send a brief CV, or a brief description of the vacant position to Rimeij du Plooy
Keep in touch with your industry and let's tackle this together
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