MetPac-SA, the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) representing the steel, tinplate and aluminium packaging industries in South Africa, hosted its first Annual General Meeting at the Coca-Cola head offices in Rosebank, Johannesburg recently.

Developing a Circular Economy

According to Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA, the ultimate aim of this Product Recovery Organisation (PRO) is to promote the responsible consumption of the planet’s finite resources, specifically in the manufacture of metal packaging.

“Living and working in a world of soon to be 9-billion consumers who are actively buying and using manufactured goods, we can no longer follow the old model whereby resources are extracted resources at increasing rates without consideration for the environment in which it operates. We need a new way of doing business, and the Government’s Section 28 call for an Industry Waste Management Plan, whereby all manufacturers and producers of packaging materials will be held accountable for the products they produce, is forcing all of us to embrace the concept of a circular economy as a way out. Packaging, and the metals packaging that we represent in particular, cannot be allowed to become waste, but needs to be collected and reused to produce new materials over and over again. For this reason, everything we do is underpinned by the concept of creating a Circular Economy that minimises the dependence on virgin metals, utilising metals that are already within the economy to sustain metal packaging within SA,” Kishan said.

Growing industry representation and participation

MetPac-SA was formed approximately 18 months ago, with aim of establishing the metals packaging industry as a valuable and recognised contributor to sustainability throughout the supply chain and beyond. Today, the association has also become a repository of information and knowledge pertaining to the metal industry in SA. It represents the interests the entire metal packaging value chain in South Africa, including steel, tin plate and aluminium packaging producers and the recyclers of these materials. Current members include ABInBev, The Aerosol Manufacturers Association, Coca-Cola, Distell, Heineken, Hulamin, Nampak, Nestlé, Pack Solve, Dürsots, Woolworths and Wyda South Africa.

“We are breaking new ground and entering unchartered territories and cannot succeed without the industry’s support. It is therefore important for us to continue running awareness campaigns to both consumers and the industry, and to increase membership to MetPac-SA to at least 60 % (by tonnage) of the industry stakeholders if we are to grow our recovery rate from the current 75 % to the targeted 81 % by 2023”, said Kishan.

Announcing the MetPac-SA Board of Directors for 2019

The following individuals have made themselves available to serve on the MetPac-SA Board of Directors for the next year:

• Clint Bisset - ABInBevKishan Singh
• CEOCasper Durandt - Coca-Cola Muhammed Darsot
• DürsotsRiccardo Benedetti - HulaminKlaus Hass
• NampakPhilemon Sereme - Nestlé Louis Wenzel
• Pack Solve  Andre Nel - Pick n Pay

Looking ahead

MetPac-SA Board and members were thanked for their support and assistance in preparing the submission with their willingness to discuss ideas, suggest solutions and exchange information. “Time will soon tell what the future will hold and how funds will be administered, but we know it will demand a greater degree of collaboration between brand owners, retailers, municipalities and other stakeholders to ensure a that the packaging industry as a whole creates better products, more jobs, sees greater transformation and operates in a way that is overall more environmentally responsible.  Whilst there will no doubt be certain challenges that need to be overcome, the opportunities at exist are equally exciting and motivating to get all the industry players involved and committed to our recycling and recovery objectives,” Kishan concludes.

For more information, visit www.metpacsa.org.za