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Article by Nampak 13 December 2011
Nampak Flexible initiates MORE exciting plastics recycling projects...
Nampak Flexible is producing some pretty big results in the plastics recycling arena through multi-layer extrusion projects that focus on absorbing plastic waste.
“Our goal is to focus on areas where we can get the most waste absorbed as quickly as possible,” says Jonathan Welch, Nampak Flexible’s Environmental Specialist.
Currently Nampak Flexible has four waste streams/groups of plastic, which are recycled. Take your everyday crisp bags - a metalised polypropylene laminate with a perception of being non-recyclable. Although difficult, it’s completely doable and Nampak Flexible is currently working with a recycler who produces products such as pallets and collapsible bins from plastic pellets made out of these recycled bags.
The projects have much value and Nampak Flexible is already preventing roughly 63 tons of waste per month from being thrown into landfills - and it’s only the beginning. But the recycling of this waste is not just an environmental issue alone; there are social and economic benefits too, especially for local communities.
One Nampak Flexible initiative currently provides an NGO with trim waste for crocheting into bags. An income generation project for those living with AIDS, the project creates employment for talented people who benefit directly from their work. “ With some NGO’s, much of the funds never find their way to those they are intended for, but here 100 percent of the purchase price goes directly to the bag crafter who has a direct relationship with the purchaser,” says Jonathan.
“Essentially, we’re dealing with entrepreneurial support and development as well as social awareness on a low volume, high impact basis,” adds Jonathan. “But there are also high volume projects in the pipeline and on the go. Much of the post-industrial multilayer waste for example is currently used in a roof tile making process, which involves one of Nampak Flexible’s large customers,” he says.
Nampak Flexible is also looking ahead at opportunities to supply schools with injection-moulded chairs produced from post-industrial flexible waste; the company is already involved with a similar project supplying kids tables and chairs to crèches in the local KwaZulu-Natal area.
At this point, the majority of the waste used for recycling is post-industrial waste, but there are also some exciting developments in the pipeline for post-consumer waste. Nampak Flexible is demonstrating that the plastic recycling possibilities are endless and we look forward to seeing how their exciting projects develop further.
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“Our goal is to focus on areas where we can get the most waste absorbed as quickly as possible,” says Jonathan Welch, Nampak Flexible’s Environmental Specialist.
Currently Nampak Flexible has four waste streams/groups of plastic, which are recycled. Take your everyday crisp bags - a metalised polypropylene laminate with a perception of being non-recyclable. Although difficult, it’s completely doable and Nampak Flexible is currently working with a recycler who produces products such as pallets and collapsible bins from plastic pellets made out of these recycled bags.
The projects have much value and Nampak Flexible is already preventing roughly 63 tons of waste per month from being thrown into landfills - and it’s only the beginning. But the recycling of this waste is not just an environmental issue alone; there are social and economic benefits too, especially for local communities.
One Nampak Flexible initiative currently provides an NGO with trim waste for crocheting into bags. An income generation project for those living with AIDS, the project creates employment for talented people who benefit directly from their work. “ With some NGO’s, much of the funds never find their way to those they are intended for, but here 100 percent of the purchase price goes directly to the bag crafter who has a direct relationship with the purchaser,” says Jonathan.
“Essentially, we’re dealing with entrepreneurial support and development as well as social awareness on a low volume, high impact basis,” adds Jonathan. “But there are also high volume projects in the pipeline and on the go. Much of the post-industrial multilayer waste for example is currently used in a roof tile making process, which involves one of Nampak Flexible’s large customers,” he says.
Nampak Flexible is also looking ahead at opportunities to supply schools with injection-moulded chairs produced from post-industrial flexible waste; the company is already involved with a similar project supplying kids tables and chairs to crèches in the local KwaZulu-Natal area.
At this point, the majority of the waste used for recycling is post-industrial waste, but there are also some exciting developments in the pipeline for post-consumer waste. Nampak Flexible is demonstrating that the plastic recycling possibilities are endless and we look forward to seeing how their exciting projects develop further.
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