Plastics don’t litter – People do! |
The Enviromark - A multi-faceted approach to the environmentThe Plastics Federation has two main operating divisions, one of which is the Environmental Division. The Federation’s strategic environmental intent is to enhance waste collection and recycling, with Industry’s involvement and at their cost. Effectively a form of ‘extended producer responsibility’. The plastics industry recognises its responsibilities regards waste management and especially litter and absolutely intends to actively get into solving the problems along with Government and other stakeholders. The Enviromark is the perfect vehicle from which to mount successful waste management campaigns and effect the waste hierarchy management system. In addition to our own South African efforts, the Federation subscribes to the Global Guidance Statement regards “Managing Plastics at End-of-Life” which was finalised at the 19th Annual Global Meeting on Plastics and the Environment in October 2008 at which South Africa actively participated. In particular the plastics industries in various parts of the world recognise the value and importance of responsibility, leadership and global cooperation in managing environmental issues relating to plastics. This is consistent with the role of plastics providing solutions to the challenges of climate, population and economic change. We recognise the role of all types of plastics and that the selection of materials for a given application should be based on technical merit, over whole-of-life, supported by sound science. This information is made available to industry associations, companies, governments, non-government organisations, community groups and other interested parties to use and adapt to local circumstances. The guidance will be updated from time to time to reflect appropriateness and accuracy. Specifically, this guidance recognises the environmental, economic and social importance of diverting plastic products from landfill and litter streams at the eventual end of their life cycles. It covers used plastics from domestic, municipal, commercial / industrial and building / construction sources. It includes products with short term, medium and long term product cycles lasting from months to years to decades. In January 1997 the Federation’s Environmental Division, together with key players in the industry, embarked on a campaign to make a meaningful contribution towards environmental responsibility; also to meet funding requirements for various projects as requirements had expanded to the point where normal Federation resources no longer sufficed. This campaign centred on a defined Brand and logo – the Plastics Enviromark – registered in the name of the Plastics Federation of South Africa, which participants now use under licence. This initiative is essentially the exclusive use of a logo by Enviromark licensees (raw material suppliers, plastics converters, certain retailers, Toyota and certain plastics associations who contract to support the programme. The organisations subscribing to the Plastics Enviromark are able to express their commitment to environmental responsibility by use of the logo on their stationery and products. The licensing fee is used by the Plastics Federation to fund the various environmentally orientated projects and activities. It is noteworthy that some 80% of the plastics packaging industry are currently contributing to this programme. “The Plastics Federation of South Africa is committed to the sustainability of the environment,” says Douw Steyn, Environmental Director. “Our commitment is evident through our multi-faceted approach to the environment.” The Environmental Division strategy is comprised of:
To enhance the awareness of litter, the Federation participates in the annual International Coastal Cleanups, where every September, from Maine to Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands of people in more than 75 countries remove millions of kilograms of trash from waterways and beaches all over the world. In South Africa volunteers spring-clean the beaches along our coast, including three of our most ecologically sensitive islands. What makes the International Coastal Clean-up so important is that it is an audited clean-up – every piece of litter collected is noted in a register and the rubbish is also weighed afterwards. This event has gone from strength to strength in South Africa, and is now in its 10 th year! “Each year 500 000 bags are sponsored for community clean up campaigns – cleaning up beaches, rivers and underwater litter,” said Douw Steyn.
Another exciting development for the Federation’s Enviromark Team is their involvement and participation in “Greening” BIG EVENTS such as the Cape Argus and 94.7 cycle races, the Two Oceans and Knysna Marathons and the KZN Amashova cycle race. The cyclists, runners and supporters use plastic bottles and sachets - providing a great opportunity to create awareness and educate the public on litter and the Federation’s activities in combating this problem. “ In the education programme the PFSA interacts with all sorts of people and groups nationally on the properties and uses of the various kinds of plastic, its value to the environment and why plastic is really the material of choice. A good place to start is with learners through the formal education system. “We have been involved in the planning of the new school syllabus, and have developed an information booklet which is available at exhibitions, on our website and from our various branches. The booklet contains useful information on the 7 different categories of plastics, how to identify them, how to recycle them, when to use them and why Plastic is such an important part of everyday life.” The Fantastic Plastics Competition, which has been running for the past 4 years, offers learners the opportunity to win a fun filled weekend away, with wonderful prizes for themselves and their schools! The Enviromark Team works closely with the Department of Education, ensuring that teachers are well informed on the subject of plastics waste management and recycling. The plastics industry Environmental Initiative (Enviromark) stands firmly behind a well-structured programme of education and awareness creation that is focused on the main cause of litter: irresponsible social attitudes of the majority of South African citizens. Recovery and recycling is the third objective and this is where the Federation works closely with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEAT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). The long awaited National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has finally been signed into Law which is a great milestone for the waste management sector. The Waste Act seeks to encourage the prevention and minimisation of waste generation. The Enviromark Team is instrumental in educating the public on this important issue and ensuring that reuse and recycling of waste is promoted, and landfill disposal of waste only considered as a last resort. The Enviromark Team also assists municipalities and provinces in devising successful waste management plans. South Africa is a world leader in the recycling of plastics. The first entrants to this market nearly thirty years ago were decades ahead of their time and pioneered technology and equipment for the rest of the world. The plastics recycling sector in South Africa today is very competitive with 160 plus operations nationally. Of the total production of plastics, South Africa recycles about 18% and as much as 28% of packaging waste. “This is in line with the world average. We need to promote that plastics are 100% recyclable. In order to increase these statistics, we need to develop an effective post consumer collection system and a viable end market and this is an integral area of the Enviromark team’s focus, said Douw. The fourth objective of Information and Communication is as important as the others. Besides extensive participation in nationwide exhibitions and two informative and well researched websites, they produce a quarterly newsletter, informing the public and the industry of the Enviromark Team’s activities.
Today the plastics industry Environmental Initiative stands firmly behind a well-structured programme of education and awareness creation that is focused on the main cause of litter: irresponsible social attitudes of the majority of South African citizens.
For more information on the Environmental Initiative or other Environmental Issues contact Douw Steyn or Delanie Bezuidenhout on Tel: +27 11 314 4021, Fax: 011-314-3765. |
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Enviromark Roll of Honour We support the Enviromark! |
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