Earth Day: A Global Celebration of Our Planet

As the world commemorates World Earth Day on April 22nd, the focus this year is on redefining our relationship with plastic for a sustainable future. With the theme “Planet vs Plastic”, the urgency to combat plastic pollution has never been more pressing.

Despite the alarming statistics that show more plastic has been produced in the last decade than in the entire 20th century, there are signs of progress. In South Africa, the plastic pollution crisis is on the decline, with the SA Plastics Pact reporting a 43.2% recycling rate in 2020, including a 35.4% rate for plastic packaging alone.

One notable initiative making a difference is Nestlé’s RE programme, particularly the RE-Imagine Tomorrow project in partnership with waste reclaimers from Tembisa. Together, they collected over 80 tons of plastic waste, repurposing it into outdoor bins for the community. These efforts have significantly boosted South Africa’s recycling rates above the global average.

Nestlé has also taken significant steps to reduce its plastic consumption, integrating 30% recycled plastic into all shrink film and achieving a 50% reduction in pallet wrapping across its factories. By revamping the packaging of NESTLÉ NESPRAY sachets to be more recyclable, Nestlé is on track to reduce packaging material destined for landfills by 78 tons.

Mark Helfrich, Packaging Engineering Manager at Nestlé East and Southern Africa, highlights the company’s commitment to circular principles through projects like “Fit for Purpose.” By innovating and optimizing packaging materials, Nestlé is actively reducing its environmental footprint.

Individuals are also encouraged to play their part in combatting plastic pollution through simple lifestyle changes and education on sustainability. Together, we can work towards a plastic-free future and preserve the beauty of our planet for generations to come.