The importance of better product design for enhanced recyclability of plastic products was one of the key focus areas highlighted at this year’s Plastics SA Future for Growth conference, which took place on March 13 as part of the yearly Propak Exhibition at Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg.

The industry body met with key industry stakeholders to discuss and debate some of the most pertinent issues affecting the growth of the local plastics manufacturing, converting and recycling industries, collectively classified as a priority sector by government.

“For the first time ever, we created a platform where experts representing various, and even opposing, points of view could debate plastics-related issues,” says Plastics SA chairperson Philip de Weerdt.

Seasoned investigative journalists Freek Robinson, Jeremy Maggs and Ruda Landman each moderated a group of panellists who unpacked issues affecting growth in the local plastics industry and which were impacting on plastic packaging in South Africa. They debated whether plastics were, in fact, sustainable – thereby dealing with a variety of industry-specific challenges through open dialogue.

“Amid so much negativity, it was abso- lutely wonderful to sit with people who are thinking of solutions every day and making things happen,” said Landman.

Maggs told Engineering News that industry gatherings like Plastics SA’s Future for Growth conference contributed significantly, shedding light on some of the ill-conceived perceptions people had about the industry.

“I think it recalibrates the debate. Some of the points coming out of the conference were incredibly useful and important,” he said, highlighting the slow development of government’s National Waste Management Plan as a key area of concern.

“The plan seems to be ‘stuck in committee’ and I don’t think the industry is going to move forward progressively unless the plan is not only passed but also adopted by industry.

“Further, industry needs to start speaking with a louder, more unified, voice, particularly with regard to sustainability issues.”

Maggs, whose interest in plastics stems from his work in advertising and branding, added that, from a design and sustainability perspec- tive, plastic packaging was not currently on the broader marketing agenda – an issue he believes can be mitigated by open forums such as the Future for Growth conference.

“People need to think differently,” says Plastics SA executive director Anton Hanekom, who believes the conference provided some clarity in terms of what the industry needs to focus on and prioritise.

“The conference also created an awareness within the industry, illustrating that it’s not up to Plastics SA alone to mitigate industry-specific issues.”

Hanekom further emphasised the importance of opening the forum for debate and increasing transparency within the industry, adding that the conference was meant not only to promote the plastics industry but also to bring pertinent issues to the fore.

“Solutions will follow the challenges. Once we’ve pinpointed what those challenges are and how we need to deal with them, we can put alternative measures in place and decide where to go from there.”

Audience members at the conference were encouraged to participate in the debates using individual mini devices, which allowed them to comment on the discussions, pose questions to the panellists and vote on specific issues that were raised during the dialogue.

Plastics SA’s Future for Growth conference also attracted international attention from the plastics industry worldwide, welcoming Plastics Europe executive director Dr Wilfried Haensel, who presented the keynote address on lessons learnt in the global plastics industry, and several foreign delegates from neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, and countries further afield, such as Sri Lanka.