Green Economy Journal Issue 61

PACKAGING
MetPac-SA celebrates
RESOUNDING SUCCESS
MetPac-SA, a global leader in metal packaging solutions, held its fourth
Annual General Meeting recently. The AGM served as a platform to celebrate
the milestones MetPac-SA has reached in the past year, as well as outline
the association’s goals for the future. Under the visionary leadership
of CEO, Kishan Singh, the organisation has continued to thrive in the
ever-evolving metal packaging industry.
Shaping Tomorrow
Sustainable and Responsible
Metal Packaging Solutions
BY METPAC-SA
Kishan Singh (CEO)
three main objectives of MetPac-SA are to operate as
the appointed PRO on behalf of its members, by taking on
“The
part of its members’ EPR-related obligations and thereby
to ensure its members’ EPR compliance; to reduce waste and improve
recycling and re-use of metal packaging on an industry-wide basis
and finally to be acceptable in form and operation to the relevant
stakeholders, including the South African government and the
metal industry. This year’s AGM was testament to the hard work,
dedication and innovation of our entire MetPac-SA team. We are
immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished and the positive
impact we’ve had on metal in the packaging industry,” Singh said.
He added that the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)
made significant strides in sustainability and environmental responsibility.
It introduced several ground-breaking initiatives to increase the
collection and recycling rates of both aluminium and ferrous (steel)
packaging, minimise waste and promote eco-friendly practices
throughout its supply chain. These efforts have garnered recognition
from industry peers.
“According to the declarations made by our members, more than
53 000 tons of aluminium packaging were placed on the local market
during 2022. During this year, we managed to exceed both the product
design (24%) and recycling targets (30%), and narrowly missed the
collection target (60%) and energy recovery target (32%).”
MetPac-SA created working groups that meet monthly to increase
collection and recycling efforts for the next financial year, is involved
in the development of an ongoing material flow analysis, has signed
NDAs with identified stakeholders (buy-back centres, metal recyclers
and waste-to-energy entities) and is collecting data on material placed
in the market, collected, recycled and waste-to-energy/exported.
Aluminium UBC performance against S18 targets.
“We are confident that we will continue to meet the S18 targets
that have been set for us by government for this year,” Singh said.
“We continue to work closely with our international and local counterparts
as part of the PRO Alliance. Through the latter we are working hard to
finalise a mechanism to register waste pickers on a national database,
negotiating a service fee for waste pickers, driving national pilot studies
and are looking at implementing the EPR online software strategy.”
The association is also supporting various projects around the
country aimed at raising awareness and understanding about the
importance of recycling and making sure metal packaging remains
in the circular economy. These include projects driven by Collect-a-
Can, Packa-Ching, CL Trading, The Metal Recyclers Association, PETCO
and the Plant the Seed foundation. “We have achieved phenomenal
successes with our “Trash 4 Treats” Schools Recycling Project, are
proud to be a sponsor of the IPSA GoldPack Awards and will also be
launching our own metal packaging survey over the next few months”.
“This year’s Annual General Meeting was not just a reflection of
our achievements this past year, but also a clear vision for the future.
We are very excited about the journey that lies ahead. MetPac-SA is
committed to being at the forefront of sustainable packaging solutions,
as our members are dedicated to create metal packaging that are both
functional and environmentally responsible.
“Looking ahead, we believe MetPac-SA is poised for even greater
achievements. Our strategic roadmap includes plans to expand
our global and local presence, forge new partnerships with likeminded
organisations, and continue pioneering advancements in
sustainable packaging technology. These initiatives are in line with
the association’s long-term vision to lead the industry in sustainability
and innovation. With the support of our industry, we will continue
making a positive impact on our planet while delivering exceptional
value to our members.”
For more information about Metpac-SA visit www.metpacsa.org.za
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The new Board of Directors tasked with leading the PRO in 2024,
as selected by members are:
• Kishan Singh (CEO)
• Mark Helfrich of Nestlé (chairman)
• Nozicelo Ngcobo of CCBA Group (vice-chairman)
• Muhammed Darsot (Dürsots)
• Roxanne Stegen of Hulamin
• Karen-Dawn Koen of the Oceana Group
• Josh Hammann of AB-InBev
• Don MacFarlane of Woolworths
MetPacSA is dedicated to leading the way in creating a sustainable future by focusing on metal
packaging. As the registered Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) with the Department
of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, we take our sustainability pledge seriously. Here's
how we're doing our part:
EPR Compliance: We offer our members support by taking on part of their Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR) related obligations. This ensures compliance with regulatory
requirements and makes things easier for them.
Recycle & Reuse: We aim to reduce waste management and encourage the recycling and
re-use of metal packaging across the industry. This conserves resources and reduces the
environmental impact.
Stakeholder Acceptance: We collaborate with stakeholders, including the South African
Government and the metal industry, to devise solutions that are both sustainable and
acceptable in their form and operation.
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www.metpacsa.org.za