FL E X I B L E PAC K AG I N G
Plastics bags can tread lightly on earth The South African plastics industry has welcomed the recent findings released by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), confirming that reusable, plastic shopping bags have the lowest environmental footprint compared to carrier bags made from alternative materials.
T
he study was funded by the
plastic bags are regulated to be a minimum
Department of Science and
of 30 micron, plus or minus a 20% variance.
Innovation (DSI) and aimed to
Although the CSIR study focused primarily on
identify which bag is “best” in the South
testing the plastic carrier bags of that were
African context. It assessed sixteen
between 30 and 70 microns, it confirmed that
different types of carrier bags - including
plastic carrier bags performed best overall –
the standard single-use, 24 micron HDPE
provided that they are reused.
bags, as well as a number of reusable and biodegradable alternatives. Twenty-one environmental and socio-
The South African plastics industry reached a major milestone in 2018 when the local bag manufacturers improved
economic indicators were used to assess
the recyclability of their bags by reducing
the life cycle of each bag, including water
the filler content. At the same time, South
use, land use, global warming, the impacts
African retailers agreed to change their
of pollution, impact on employment and the
carrier bags from virgin, to include post-
affordability for consumers.
consumer recycled content. This move
According to Plastics SA’s executive
created a much-needed and substantial
director, Anton Hanekom, the local study
market for post-consumer recycled material.
confirmed the findings of similar studies
It was hailed as an important breakthrough
which have been conducted elsewhere in
for the industry and its efforts to address
the world, such as a recent analysis by
the issue of single-use plastics polluting the
Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and
environment. By ensuring that plastic carrier
Food which found that cotton bags have to
bags become part of a circular economy, a
be re-used 7 100 times in order to have the
win-win situation has been created for the
same cumulative environmental impact as
environment and for the industry.
using standard plastic bags which are easy
“The manufacturing and recycling of
to produce, require very little energy and
plastic carrier bags not only help to create
produce very little carbon dioxide emissions.
employment to more than 60 000 South
“What is particularly welcoming, is that
Africans, but also contribute vast sums
the CSIR study assessed a broad range
of money to state funds. Plastic bags are
of environmental and socio-economic
still the only packaging item for which
indicators that are unique to our South
an environmental tax is levied. Since the
African context. It has confirmed our
beginning of April this year, plastic bag
message that our locally produced, plastic
levies have increased to 25 cents, which
bags (ranging from 24 microns right up to
is expected to generate more than R250
70 microns) are ideally suited to be reused
million for the state coffers. As an industry
and should therefore not be considered a
we are appealing to the government to
single-use plastic,” Hanekom said.
ensure that at least some of these funds are
The majority of the plastic carrier bags used in most African, American, Asian and
used to help us boost recycling and grow a Weighing in on the matter on behalf of
microns in thickness. In South Africa, retail
plastic bag manufacturers, Phillip Abelheim,
Food Review | June 2020
chief executive officer of Transpaco Limited and one of South Africa’s biggest manufacturers of plastic bags, said the latest research findings were encouraging to a manufacturing sector that has been until recently, been on the receiving end of harsh criticism. “We believe that plastic carrier bags and plastic items in general have an important role to play in our modern society. The recent worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has once again proven that the world relies on plastics to help prevent the spreading of diseases, protect food and to keep us healthy. Plastic products are strong and versatile and offer us convenience at a low price. The ongoing challenge lies in preventing this wonder material from ending up in the environment after it has been used, and making sure that it is properly discarded so that it can be recycled into a multitude of different and new products,” Hanekom concludes. •
circular economy,” Hanekom appeals.
European markets, range between 12 and 17
40
The plastics industry has welcomed a CSIR report that confirm that bags have the smallest enviro footprint
Plastics|SA - www.plasticsinfo.co.za
