SOUTH AFRICA – South African local packaging manufacturer using 100% recycled material, Tuffy has joined forces with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA) to create greater awareness around the waste-to-landfill impact on the environment.
According to MIR Agency, the information will be conveyed through on-product messaging, in-store communication, and other relevant activities, in a bid to drive much-needed education, awareness and behavior change.
In addition to that, Tuffy will donate a portion of money it will earn from sale of its refuse bags to support the vital conservation work done by WWF SA.
Through this, consumer will be contributing to the fight against waste.
“Tuffy is an iconic South African business that has driven real innovation in plastic recycling. We are incredibly grateful to them for their support of WWF’s work,” said Justin Smith, Head of Business Development Unit, WWF-SA.
The WWF SA partnership is a true testament to Tuffy’s long held commitment to the adoption of environmentally friendly production methods.
“Tuffy is an iconic South African business that has driven real innovation in plastic recycling. We are incredibly grateful to them for their support of WWF’s work.”
Head of Business Development Unit, WWF-SA – Justin Smith
Having pioneered the refuse bag-on-a-roll concept in South Africa, Tuffy has subsequently established itself at the forefront of the global sustainability agenda through its leadership in recycled content in plastics manufacturing, recycling an astonishing 544 311 kilograms of plastic per month.
Other than refuse bags, its product range includes food storage bags, foils and wraps.
“We are delighted to be partnering with WWF SA in amplifying the need for increased knowledge around sustainability issues.
“At a time when ecological awareness is more important than ever, it is our responsibility as manufacturers to drive forward environmental goals and effect real change which can be facilitated even further with collaboration across the board,” said Rory Murray, Tuffy Marketing Head.
This pledge is also underpinned by Tuffy’s role as a founding member of the SA Plastics Pact, a national initiative developed by the WWF SA in 2019 whereby various key stakeholders have set a series of ambitious 2025 targets to establish a circular plastics economy for South Africa.
SA Plastics Pact gears towards 100% recycled plastic packaging by 2025
The other founding members of the SA Plastics Pact are the Clicks Group, Coca-Cola Africa, Danone,Distell, HomeChoice, Massmart, Myplas, Nampak Rigids, Pick n Pay, Polyoak, Polyplank, Shoprite Group, SPAR, Spur Corporation, TFG, Tigerbrands, Unilever, ADDIS, Waste Plan and Woolworths.
By 2025, all members commit to take action on problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (re-use) delivery models.
In addition to that, they aim that 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable while 70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled and 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.
In order to achieve these 2025 targets for a circular economy for plastic in South Africa, various activities are required such as designing out unnecessary plastic items, adopt reuse, recycle and compostable models.
As integral as plastic is to modern life, the devastating effect plastic waste is having on nature can no longer be ignored.
The amount of plastic waste has ballooned in recent times and found its way into the environment at a tragic cost to world’s natural heritage, marine life and wildlife.
According to World Economic Forum, every year the world produces more than 400 million tonnes of plastics, much of which is mismanaged.
After use and only 14–18% of plastic waste is formally recycled, as a global average, and the percentage is much lower in some countries.
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