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Paper, Plastics, Packaging, Printing News

Sappi starts production of essential medical items, donates to Solidarity Fund

By: Donna Slater 20th April 2020 Pulp and paper producer Sappi Southern Africa has made available several donations of scarce items such as hand sanitiser, face masks, nutritional porridge and paper products, to reduce pressure on the national government’s resources, as well as to support the most vulnerable during the Covid-19... →

Online portal to boost access to essential medical Covid-19 supplies

By: Donna Slater 17th April 2020 As part of the Business South Africa (BSA) initiative, and with technical assistance from Tencent South Africa, the South African Medical Technology Industry Association (Samed) has created a live online portal for its member companies to upload details of the Covid-19 supplies and equipment they... →

Waste pickers get relief with food vouchers during national lockdown

By: Donna Slater 14th April 2020 An electronic food voucher initiative is being rolled out to waste pickers across the country, as part of a partnership between the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and the packaging industry, to assist waste pickers who have lost their livelihoods during the national... →

Mondi withholds dividend, takes capital precautions amid Covid-19 uncertainties

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th April 2020 Despite a robust balance sheet and a decent operational and financial performance, JSE-listed paper and packaging group Mondi has decided to not pay out a final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2019, in light of Covid-19-related uncertainties. The board says it recognises the... →

Sappi board, regional leaders agree to paycut, zero incentive bonus

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th April 2020 Paper and packaging company Sappi’s board of directors and the group and regional leadership teams from Europe, North America and Southern Africa have volunteered to take a 10% reduction in salaries or fees for the three months ending June 30. This is in recognition of the uncertain trading... →

Government calls on local PPE suppliers to reach out to procurement office

By: Donna Slater 8th April 2020 The National Treasury, in support of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition, is asking all compliant, particularly local, suppliers providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to direct their offers to the project management office set up for this purpose. The South African health... →

UJ Makerspace 3D printing face shields for hospital staff

By: Donna Slater 2nd April 2020 The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ’s) three-dimensional (3D) innovation laboratory Makerspace has been mobilised to help in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 by producing face shields to be used by frontline hospital staff as cases of the virus continue to rise in South Africa, and... →

The face shields made by UJ Makerspace laboratory

South African school group develops, 3D prints face shields to protect healthcare workers

By: Donna Slater 2nd April 2020 JSE-listed independent education provider Curro Holdings is assisting several healthcare organisations around the country by offering the services of its three-dimensional printers, as well as its staff, to aid in the printing of protective face shields for medical workers currently fighting... →

Sappi expects lower dissolving pulp, graphic paper demand to impact on profit

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th March 2020 As a result of the global Covid-19 crisis, JSE-listed paper manufacturer Sappi expects lower demand for some of its products, especially dissolving pulp and graphic paper. The company is not yet able to provide an accurate profit forecast or a fuller view of the virus’ impact on the market just. →

Nampak expects Covid-19 to further hinder already burdened economies

By: Simone Liedtke 30th March 2020 As economies shift their focus towards containing the spread of and the eradication of the Covid-19 virus, packaging products manufacturer Nampak on March 30 lamented that the pandemic was expected to further hinder an already burdened economy, and that it would put further pressure on consumers’... →

Tough trading conditions reported by manufacturer

27th March 2020 Paper and plastic packaging manufacturer Mpact says it experienced tough trading conditions in the year that ended on December 31, 2019. “Trading over the past year across most of our businesses has been very challenging from a demand perspective. →

Wastepaper R&D receives R2m from local industry body

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 27th March 2020 Fibre Circle, the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) for the paper and paper packaging sectors, has earmarked R2-million for research and development (R&D) in the areas of alternate and innovative uses for recovered paper as well as the provision of recycling equipment for micropreneurs... →

Correct pumping solutions assist in efficiency, cost savings

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 27th March 2020 Owing to the complexities of having to negotiate the technical obstacles in selecting the right pumping solutions for specific applications, pump manufacturer Verder Pumps South Africa MD Darryl Macdougall says paper and pulp manufacturers need to look to a trusted and reputable brand that not... →

Call for polymer, plastics industries to be declared essential as lockdown looms

By: Donna Slater 25th March 2020 South African plastics industry representative organisation Plastics SA has called on government to reclassify some sectors within the broader plastics industry as essential service providers owing to its contribution to packaging essential items during the upcoming 21-day national lockdown.... →

Sappi declares force majeure on its Vulindlela project at Saiccor mill

By: Simone Liedtke 25th March 2020 JSE-listed paper and packaging company Sappi has declared force majeure on the Vulindlela dissolving pulp expansion and upgrade project at its Saiccor Mill in alignment with the government’s declaration of a nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19. Sappi on March 25 said the project... →

Mondi appoints Philip Yea nonexecutive director, chair

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th March 2020 JSE-listed Mondi Group has appointed Philip Yea as a nonexecutive director with effect from April 1, and chairperson with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for May 7. He will succeed David Williams, who is retiring. →

South African factory output contracts For eighth straight month

By: Bloomberg 12th March 2020 South Africa manufacturing output contracted for the eighth straight month in January as fewer wood products, paper and vehicles were made. Manufacturing output fell 2% from a year earlier, compared with a 5.9% decline in the December, Pretoria-based Statistics South Africa said Thursday on its... →

Beware of biodegradable and compostable plastics – Plastics SA

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 28th February 2020 The introduction of bioplastics to South Africa’s burgeoning and well-developed recycling industry should carefully be considered, says plastics industry association Plastics SA. Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources that are not grown or intended for human... →

LITTERING IS TRASHY Alternatives to conventional plastic packaging do not change consumer behaviour with regard to littering

New legislation driven by global digitalisation

28th February 2020 New legislation is driving a slew of changes amid rapid and widespread global digitalisation and has made print feel the impacts of the changing world, says business management consultant Ricoh SA commercial and industrial print head Vaughan Patterson. He notes that, while the Protection of... →

Products reduce plastic waste, improve packaging

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 28th February 2020 Packaging supplier Baypac Solutions’ innovative solutions have resulted in its customers being able to reduce their use of disposable plastic by 50% on average. Using one or all of Baypac Solutions’ Lock n Pop adhesive, Anti-Slip sheets and 55-layer Nanotechnology stretch film can halve stretch... →

Retailer to reduce single-use plastic impact

28th February 2020 Retail company Pick n Pay is moving to dramatically reduce the impact of single-use plastic and packaging by 2025. Since 2018, the retailer has successfully implemented a number of initiatives to reduce packaging and single-use plastic at its stores and throughout its supply chain. →

Printing industry not dying but changing

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 28th February 2020 Despite the perception that printing is outdated or dying, customer communication management solutions provider InsideData North CEO Rafiq Sallie says it is more a case of the printing industry changing and becoming more creative and interactive. The perception that printing is dying stems from... →

EXPLORING NEW AVENUES The printing industry is changing, becoming more creative and interactive

Mondi maintains solid earnings despite lower prices, maintenance shuts

By: Marleny Arnoldi 27th February 2020 Paper and packaging group Mondi’s revenue for the year ended December 31, decreased by 3% year-on-year as a result of lower average selling prices and lower sales volumes; however, operating profit increased by 2% year-on-year to €1.2-billion. The company also undertook longer planned... →

Sale of Nampak's Glass business one step closer to finalisation

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th February 2020 Packaging products manufacturer Nampak on Tuesday said the Competition Commission had granted its approval, subject to certain conditions, for the sale of Nampak's Glass business to Isanti Glass 1. Nampak in September last year announced that it would sell the Glass business to Isanti Glass 1, a... →

King appointed Mondi CEO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th February 2020 Paper and packaging group Mondi has appointed CFO Andrew King to succeed Peter Oswald as CEO, effective April 1. Oswald is stepping down on March 31. →

Mpact agrees to pay R7m penalty

By: Simone Liedtke 13th February 2020 The Competition Commission has referred to the Competition Tribunal for confirmation a consent agreement with corrugated box packaging company Mpact in respect of alleged acts of collusion and prior implementation of merger acquisitions in contravention of the Competition Act. In terms of the... →

Polyco aims for even better HDPE recycling rate this year

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th February 2020 Last year set a high benchmark for recyclers of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) milk and beverage bottles to build on, says The Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation (Polyco). More than 75% of HDPE milk and beverage bottles were recycled in 2019, which injected a significant amount of... →

Low dissolving wood pulp prices overshadow Sappi’s packaging successes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th February 2020 A good performance from JSE-listed Sappi’s European and North American packaging and specialities segments, as well as the graphic paper business, was not enough to offset the impact from markedly lower dissolving wood pulp (DWP) prices in the company’s first quarter ended December 31. CEO... →

Sappi CEO Steve Binnie

Dubai Airports single-use plastics ban in effect

24th January 2020 In a bid to manage its environmental impact, international airports authority Dubai Airports Company reports that its self-imposed ban on single-use plastics at both of Dubai’s airports has been put into effect from the beginning of this month. →

TERMINAL PLASTIC USE Dubai Airports will be terminating all single-use plastic from its airport effective January 1, 2020

Mondi’s CEO to step down in March

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th January 2020 JSE-listed packaging and paper group Mondi’s CEO Peter Oswald has announced that he will step down from the board, effective March 31. CFO Andrew King has agreed to take on the role of interim CEO while the process to find a successor is under way. →

Erik Smuts to succeed De Ruyter as Nampak CEO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 10th December 2019 Packaging product manufacturer Nampak has appointed Erik Smuts as CEO designate. He will take over as CEO on January 15, when outgoing CEO Andre de Ruyter takes up the position of CEO at power utility Eskom. →

Pick n Pay introduces packaging-free zone, expands its 'nude' produce wall

By: African News Agency 4th December 2019 South African retailer, Pick n Pay on Tuesday said it is piloting a new packaging-free zone as one of its efforts to lead the change in reducing packaging and plastic waste. The retailer said that the ‘pick and weigh’ shopping experience will also provide customers with the opportunity to... →

Company launches first plastics research centre

By: Halima Frost 29th November 2019 Specialist chemicals company Clariant last month announced the inception of its EcoCircle centre of excellence, based on its plan to offer significant support to reduce, reuse and recycle. The first such centre will be based at Clariant’s Masterbatches Business Unit in Pogliano, Italy, and aims... →

BACK TO GREEN The EcoCircle center of excellence brings with it support of the reduce, reuse and recycle concept

Food and bev packaging industry can contribute to circular economy

By: Schalk Burger 29th November 2019 Food and beverage packaging and processing businesses can design waste out of their businesses and supply chains, improve reuse and recycling, and regenerate natural systems, says food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak Eastern and Southern Africa communications manager Stella Ondimu. The... →

Nampak retains focus on reducing debt, cutting costs

By: Simone Liedtke 27th November 2019 JSE-listed packaging group Nampak expects the sale of Nampak Glass and Nampak Nigeria Cartons to raise R1.9-billion, which is said to be applied to reduce dollar-denominated debt, in particular. Additionally, the company confirmed on Wednesday, following the release of its results for the... →

Climate risk widely acknowledged, but rarely incorporated into strategy

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th November 2019 The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) says that although the majority of South African corporate companies recognise climate change as an already occurring and imminently worsening risk, they are slow to mitigate and manage these risks, at least according to publicly accessible information.... →

Three Sappi pulp production facilities complete environmental assessment

By: Simone Liedtke 18th November 2019 Paper and pulp producer Sappi’s three dissolving wood pulp (DWP) production facilities – Cloquet, Ngodwana and Saiccor – have completed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) self-assessment via the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s (SAC’s) online portal. The Higg FEM is a sustainability... →

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