Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Retailer works hard to lower impact on environment
IN A world fighting plastic crisis, the World Economic Forum warns that single-use plastic consumption is projected to surge from 460 million tonnes in 2029 to 1 231 million tonnes in 2060.
Only 14% of the plastic is recycled; the rest ending up in dams, lakes and rivers. Reusing just 10% of plastic products could cut ocean-bound plastic waste by 50%.
And it's not just up to the consumer but business as well to take the initiative to change the trajectory.
The SPAR Group, for instance, recently announced initiatives aimed at curbing the environmental impact of plastic packaging materials in its bid to phase out harmful plastics and contribute to the reduction of non-recycled multilayered materials in the ocean and landfills.
In Africa, population growth and urbanisation are driving increased single-use plastic, leading to environmental pollution and health risks, notes the World Health Organization. This includes freshwater contamination, microplastic ingestion in food, the promotion of malaria from mosquitoes breeding in waste, and harmful air pollutants released from burning plastic waste. Additionally, plastic, a fossil fuel by-product, contributes to climate change.
Of more immediate concern are the reports that Johannesburg, Tshwane and Cape Town metros have less than 10 years of useful landfill life left, says Kevin O'Brien, the group sustainability executive at The SPAR Group. “In fact, in April last year, it was reported that the majority of SA's metro landfills are left with a one-to two-year lifespan at most. This is a huge concern that needs to be tackled head-on if we are to curb environmental degradation.”
Last year, The SPAR Group recycled 19 000 tonnes of cardboard and plastic through reverse logistics operations. All carrier bags are now made from 100% recycled materials, with a minimum of 70% post-consumer waste, and are 100% recyclable, diverting about 4 000 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills a year. The numbers represent a 40% drop in the carbon footprint of their production.
All extra shelf-life SPAR 2L Fresh Milk cartons are 100% recyclable and crafted from 87% renewably sourced materials. The cartons also carry vital information about the circular economy, educating shoppers on how they can participate in recycling.
The SPAR Group's decision to replace coloured lids with white lids on its SPAR Fresh Milk plastic bottles, making recycling easier and aligning with circular economy principles, recently earned the SPAR Group the Platinum Design Award in the Sapro Recycled Plastics Product Award.
Brown plastic bottles are also being recycled and repurposed into reusable SPAR shopping bags, woven from recycled PET into a polyester fibre that supports sustainability and empowers communities, with a longterm vision to establish recycling stations in stores to repurpose the bags into blankets.
In a partnership with Supercart, The SPAR Group has created trolleys using recycled milk bottles, diverting more waste away from landfills.
“The SPAR Group is also one of the founding members of the SA Plastics Pact which aims to create a circular economy in South Africa that drives investment in infrastructure, supports livelihoods and job creation, and keeps our environment free of plastic pollution,” says O'Brien.
“What is clear, is that recycling alone will not solve the plastic waste crisis. Achieving the targets that we've set for ourselves will mean making tough decisions and investing heavily, but we're prepared to do this.
“If retailers of all sizes throughout the country would do the same, the retail sector's contribution to plastic waste would reduce significantly and our impact on the environment would improve,” says O'Brien.