The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has joined the South African (SA) Plastics Pact as a supporting member.
The SA Plastics Pact tackles the plastic waste challenge along the value chain in South Africa to increase sustainable practices and circularity. The pact members aim to accelerate the move toward a circular plastic packaging sector in South Africa.
The UJ Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment's Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (Peets) initiated the university's involvement with the SA Plastics Pact, resulting in UJ being the first academic institution to sign up as a supporting member of the pact.
“At UJ Peets, we support small and medium-sized enterprises to grow the green and circular economy. Therefore, the SA Plastics Pact is an ideal match.
"The pact reflects the holistic approach of co-creation and systems thinking that we also apply in our projects. We believe that change has to happen at each institution, starting with our own, to contribute towards a sustainable future. We are excited to walk this journey with the Pact,” explains UJ Peets project leader Katharina Gihring.
Globally, single-use plastics negatively impact on the environment, polluting land and water systems, posing a health threat to animals and humans while mainly being produced from non-renewable resources. The SA Plastics Pact is a living laboratory that has embarked on an integrative approach along the plastic value chain to tackle the challenges around plastic.
“The partnership will accelerate scale-up of new technologies, deliver economic impact and build supply chains, jobs and growth in South Africa,” Gihring says.
UJ supports the aims of the pact and its interdisciplinary approach, which will be used for campus management and to educate students while exposing them to real-life challenges.