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Paper, Plastics, Packaging, Printing News

Africa presents opportunity for new Tetra Pak, Synercore partnership

By: Tasneem Bulbulia Updated 5 hours ago Food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak has entered into a collaborative partnership with food research, application and ingredient company Synercore Food Holdings. During the journey from farm to factory to fork, the food supply chain can encounter any number of health hazards. →

Mpact reports ‘strong’ trading for first five months of 2021

By: Simone Liedtke 15th June 2021 Trading for the first five months of this year has been strong for paper and packaging manufacturer Mpact, with underlying profit exceeding pre-pandemic comparatives in both the plastics and paper businesses. Group revenue for the period ended May 31, 2021, was R4.8-billion and exceeded the prior... →

Mondi renews SDG-linked credit facility

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th June 2021 Multinational packaging and paper group Mondi has signed a new €750-million five-year multicurrency revolving credit facility (RCF) agreement to refinance an existing facility that was due to mature in July 2022. Mondi explains in a release that the RCF incorporates key sustainability targets... →

Pamsa opens applications for Masters of Engineering bursary programme

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd June 2021 The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) Masters of Engineering (MEng) bursary programme is now open for applications for the 2022/23 intake. Applications can be submitted via Pamsa’s website by June 30. →

Mondi completes acquisition of Turkish corrugated packaging company

By: Simone Liedtke 1st June 2021 Paper and packaging company Mondi on June 1 confirmed that it had completed the acquisition of 90.38% of the outstanding shares in Olmuksan International Paper for €66-million. The implied enterprise value on a 100% basis would amount to about €88-million. →

Nampak records solid interim results

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th May 2021 Packaging company Nampak recorded “very pleasing” results for the six months ended March 31, despite the ongoing restrictions on trading caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, CEO Erik Smuts said at a presentation of the company’s interim results on May 28. Overall group profitability improved, driven... →

Nampak CEO Erik Smuts outlines the group’s performance for the six months ended March 31; and its outlook.

Nemwa amendments aimed at increasing recovery of products to be recycled

By: Simone Liedtke 28th May 2021 Waste management and plastic recycling are a significant challenges in South Africa and recent amendments to Section 18 of the National Environmental Management and Waste Act (Nemwa) regulations call for producer responsibility organisations (PROs) to cooperate with municipalities to increase the... →

Plastics SA executive director Anton Hanekom gives more insight into recent amendments to Section 18 of the National Environmental Management and Waste Act (Nemwa). Video: Recorded on Zoom. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

UCT professor elected as fellow of South African Academy of Engineering

By: Donna Slater 28th May 2021 University of Cape Town (UCT) chemical engineering professor Harro von Blottnitz has been elected a fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE), thereby placing him among an elite group of 213 fellows who stand between the worlds of academia and industry, and who are considered... →

University of Cape Town chemical engineering professor Harro von Blottnitz

Nampak expects to report higher interim earnings

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th May 2021 JSE-listed Nampak’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) for continuing operations for the six months ended March 31 is expected to increase to between 16.3c and 18.7c. That compares with HEPS of 7c reported for the six months ended March 31, 2020. →

Company brings evolution to PPE

21st May 2021 As South Africa’s premier supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE), G.Fox continuously strives to break new ground and offer the very best “fit for purpose” products to their customers. This ethos is embodied in their new brand of EVOLUTION and CUTGUARD gloves and EVOLUTION masks amongst... →

TOUGH AND RUGGED Designed and tested for safety, comfort and endurance, these gloves provide maximum hand protection and durability in the most rugged and physically challenging work conditions

Fossil fuel giants and banks under fire for rise in single-use plastics

By: Reuters 18th May 2021 Production of single-use plastics is set to grow 30% in the next five years, fuelling their contribution to global warming and ocean pollution, researchers said on Tuesday as they published a list of companies that manufacture and fund throwaway plastic. The first "Plastic Waste Makers Index",... →

Lebone reaping benefits of technology, people investments

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th May 2021 Print solutions company Lebone Litho Printers’ infrastructure and technological investments, as well as its skills development and small, medium-sized and microenterprise (SMME) focus, are engendering benefits for the company. This, combined with its diversification into digital, has enabled the... →

Tetra Pak says EPR regulations will see greater industry collaboration

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th May 2021 Packaging company Tetra Pak South Africa (SA) has welcomed the Section 18 regulations relating to extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. Existing producers can register with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, before... →

Sappi says recovery steady in second quarter as Ebitda climbs

By: Schalk Burger 6th May 2021 Pulp and paper producer Sappi says its operations are steadily recovering from the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the quarter ended March 31, its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) continued to improve to $112-million, compared with... →

Mondi’s strong performance driven by sustainable packaging, e-commerce

By: Simone Liedtke 6th May 2021 Strong demand, supported by paper manufacturer Mondi’s range of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions alongside higher average containerboard selling prices, as well as strong cost control measures continued to support the company’s performance in the first quarter of this year. This was... →

Colgate launches recyclable toothpaste tube in South Africa

By: Donna Slater 22nd April 2021 Dental product manufacturer Colgate on April 22 launched its recyclable toothpaste tube in South Africa to coincide with Earth Day. Made from number two high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the new tubes will contain one of three Colgate Naturals toothpaste, including its charcoal, hemp seed oil... →

Convenient label solutions for pharmaceutical goods

By: Theresa Bhowan 9th April 2021 With the dangers and high sensitivity associated with the handling of medical and pharmaceutical products, the accuracy of storage, maintenance and distribution processes are of utmost importance, says on-pack packaging company Pyrotec PackMedia GM Timothy Beattie. Consequently, the company has... →

Paper, wood products vital to lower carbon footprint

26th March 2021 Developed centuries ago, paper has a fascinating history as it has been through the mill – literally and figuratively – in terms of what it is made from, says paper and pulp industry association the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). It also has many interesting side... →

TREE PLANTING By growing more trees, quality of life can improve and make the world sustainable

Sappi maps way forward in pandemic aftermath

26th March 2021 Paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi notes that there has been a pronounced recovery of pricing and demand in dissolving pulp (DP) markets. As of January 29, 2021, the Chinese market price had improved to $895/t, driven by a number of positive factors including low inventory levels,... →

PULP RECOVERY The full benefit of the rising dissolving pulp prices will be phased through future quarters owing to the quarterly lag in contract pricing

Combined effort required to slow plastic leakage into the environment – WWF

By: Donna Slater 25th March 2021 Tackling the ever growing issue of plastic pollution will require the collective effort of everyone in the plastics value chain, from manufacturers of raw materials that go into plastics, to the end consumers and recyclers, says World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Circular Plastics Economy project... →

Wheat, mango peel biopolymers can replace petroleum-based food packaging, say researchers

By: Schalk Burger 15th March 2021 Biocomposite films made from biopolymers and antioxidants extracted from wheat straw and mango peels can replace petroleum-based packaging materials, such as low-density polyethylene plastic film, for food packaging, says Stellenbosch University Department of Process Engineering postdoctoral... →

Sappi offers €400m senior notes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th March 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging company Sappi has announced an increase to a senior notes offering by its subsidiary Sappi Papier Holding (SPH) to €400-million, from €350-million initially. The company is implementing this offering to improve its debt maturity profile and to strengthen its... →

Compounder adds new plant capacity

By: Darren Parker 12th March 2021 Speciality compound producer Continental Engineering Compounds has invested R25-million in building a new specialised production line at its Westmead factory, in KwaZulu-Natal. The added capacity will help the company to increase supply of locally manufactured compounds used for packaging,... →

EXTRA, EXTRA The capacity expansion will assist in terms of local supply to the industrial and automotive sectors

Local PVC industry taking strain despite high demand

By: Darren Parker 12th March 2021 There is very strong demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in South Africa and the rest of Africa, owing to major water, gas and telecommunication infrastructure projects planned across the continent, but low supply and high prices are hindering industry sustainability, says South African Vinyls... →

PRECARIOUS PVC POSITION Sava calls for reduced import tariffs, more local procurement and more reliable service delivery from utilities

Sappi offers €350m senior notes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th March 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging giant Sappi has announced a €350-million senior notes offering, due 2028, by its subsidiary Sappi Papier Holding (SPH). The offer aims to improve the company’s debt maturity profile and will be used to redeem all of SPH’s outstanding senior notes due 2023. →

Mpact delivers strong performance in 2020, despite challenges

By: Simone Liedtke 5th March 2021 By delivering its proven strategy of securing leading market positions and focusing on customers and performance, paper, packaging and recycling company Mpact delivered a strong financial performance with record cash flows from operations of R1.9-billion and a reduction in net debt to... →

Mpact CEO Bruce Strong speaks to Creamer Media's Simone Liedtke about the company's latest set of results. Video & Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Tribunal gives go-ahead for eSwatini-based forestry merger

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th February 2021 The Competition Tribunal has approved a merger between Shiselweni Forestry Company and Peak Timber and Peak Forest Products (PFP). The tribunal did, however, stipulate conditions related to the sawn and untreated mining timber, final product mining timber, untreated transmission poles, building... →

Regulation mandates companies to be waste cautious

26th February 2021 With extended producer responsibility (EPR) now mandatory in South Africa, managing the end-of-life of a product has become a social, environmental and economic requirement. Owing to this, companies will need to take responsibility for their waste so that less goes to landfill, warns paper and... →

Waste management plan holds industry accountable

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 Plastic industry body Plastics SA and packaging industry body Packaging SA have welcomed the new Section 18 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) plan introduced by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy, which is expected to be implemented on November 5, 2021. Section 18 is... →

Workplace-based learning programmes to address skills shortages

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 Business development service ProudAfrique Human Capital has partnered with the University of Johannesburg’s training hub, Resolution Circle, to provide focused workplace-based learning programmes for the plastics manufacturing, computer numerical control (CNC) and injection-moulding industries.... →

DEON OBERHOLZER Apprentice programmes provide good entry-level education, as well as crucial on-the-job training and experience

Sustainability becomes new trend

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 The increased awareness around sustainable packaging has led to consumers being more conscious about their purchasing decisions and shopping choices, highlights carton packaging systems and solutions provider SIG director corporate responsibility Michael Hecker. According to Deloitte’s 2018... →

THE VISION IS CLEAR SIG’s packaging materials will come from certified responsible sources by 2030, which will make its packaging solutions the most sustainable on the market

Mondi generates robust cash, increases total dividend for 2020 by 5%

By: Donna Slater 25th February 2021 JSE- and LSE-listed packaging and paper group Mondi generated cash from operations of €1.48-million during the 2020 financial year ended December 31, 2020, which is down 9% on the year prior. Group revenue was also down 8% year-on-year, to €6.66-million, while operating profit decreased by 29%... →

Sappi starts work on developing furfural pilot plant

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th February 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi says it has made progress in the development of its biorefinery capacity. The company confirmed in a release on February 17 that it will build a pilot plant using technology developed in-house to prove the feasibility of a future commercial... →

Sappi reports first-quarter net loss but says earnings are recovering

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd February 2021 Paper and packaging giant Sappi has reported a recovery in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) from a low of $26-million in the quarter ended September 30, 2020, to $98-million in the quarter ended December 31, 2020 – the first quarter of the company’s 2021... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sappi's Ngodwana Mill, in Mpumalanga

Growth in use of bioplastics must be part of holistic policy approach to sustainability, says TIPS

By: Schalk Burger 2nd February 2021 South Africa must leverage a range of policy interventions, from developing new production inputs, incentives and taxes, to public procurement and consumer engagement initiatives, to effectively tackle plastic waste and secure sustainable social, environmental and economic benefits from the use... →

Sappi secures sustainable forest certification in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 28th January 2021 Wood-fibre products company Sappi has achieved the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification- (PEFC-) endorsed Sustainable African Forest Assurance Scheme (Safas) certification in South Africa. The Safas project was a successful collaboration between Sappi and a number of South... →

Glass packagers face R1.5bn hit from alcohol ban - Consol

By: Reuters 18th January 2021 South Africa's glass packaging industry could lose a further R1.5-billion in sales if the latest ban on alcohol sales continues for long, the CEO of glass bottle maker Consol said on Monday. South Africa has recently banned alcohol sales for the third time as part of efforts to free up space for... →

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