SOUTH AFRICA – Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP) South Africa has launched a Web-based initiative called money4glass, which is aimed at improving glass recycling effectiveness within the company’s supply chain.
The platform, which is powered by BanQu supply chain compliance software, will help AGP track and monitor all recycled glass or cullet, trades but also help put money in the pockets of recyclers in a more transparent and faster way.
AGP Africa supply chain executive Thomas Shaw said: “The technology enables us to identify traders, better understand the footprint of cullet recycling activity in the country and monitor the volumes of cullet traded in different regions.”
Additionally, the technology allows the company to make glass recycling financially viable across the width and breadth of South Africa, through the application of targeted incentives.
The platform also ensures that payments and incentives can quickly reach all recyclers, particularly informal recyclers.
AGP’s supply chain includes three levels of recycling, starting with glass recyclers who sell directly to AGP South Africa in quantities of at least 10 tonnes a month, the glass recyclers that typically sell to the Level 1 buyers in smaller loads, and the informal waste pickers that collect glass in bags or trolleys and sell to Level 1 or Level 2 buyers.
In addition, the company says the money4glass platform will help collate data that can be used for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Plan audits, which is mandated by legislation as of 2021.
In efforts to create a circular economy and reduce the environmental footprint of the manufacturing industry, the government introduced the EPR as a producer-focused mechanism to reduce waste – by ensuring that producers of products take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging.
The intention is to increase recycling, and thereby decrease dependency on new raw materials.
AGP says the money4glass platform is easy to use and accessible on any Internet-enabled device. It records transactions between registered buyers and sellers at all levels in a transparent manner.
Besides creating a formalized and transparent trading platform, the technology has several benefits for traders, for the business and for the government’s economic empowerment ambitions, AGP states.
The platform will empower downstream recycling value chain players through visibility and increased bankability; will enable enterprise development and visibility to the base of the pyramid; and strengthen efficiencies of waste collection networks, including informal collectors.
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