South African Plastics Pact elects steering committee for 2030 targets

SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Plastics Pact has elected a new Steering Committee to drive its 2030 circular economy targets, including recyclable packaging design and increased plastic recycling rates across the country.

Ralph Jewson, project manager in the sustainability office at Woolworths, takes over as incoming chair, succeeding Blain van Wyk. 

Jewson commended the previous committee’s progress under van Wyk’s leadership, noting significant impact including strengthened collaboration with the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. 

He linked his election to Woolworths’ Good Business Journey, describing the retailer’s vision as becoming one of the world’s most responsible retailers with sustainability at the core of its business. 

Packaging and waste form one of eight core focus areas within that programme.

Committee Spans Full Plastics Value Chain

The Steering Committee is designed to ensure fair representation across the entire plastics value chain. 

Newly onboarded members include brand owners Maritza van Dyk from PepsiCo SA and Yase Godlo from Unilever, retailers Vaughan Pierce from Pick n Pay and Ralph Jewson from Woolworths, and converters Michelle Penlington from Polyoak Packaging and Shivern Reddy from CCL Label SA. 

Recyclers Johann Conradie from Myplas and Chandru Wadhwani from Extrupet also join, alongside Joe Stead from Spur Corporation representing hospitality, Luyanda Hlatshwayo from the African Reclaimers Organisation representing waste collectors, and government representatives Pamela Nxumalo from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Alison Evans from the City of Cape Town. 

Janine Osborne from the Sustainable Seas Trust and network conveners Andrea Cantu from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Andrea Cino from WRAP complete the roster.

Four Targets Set Recyclability and Recycling Thresholds

The 2030 targets require a 20 percent intensity reduction in virgin fossil-fuel-based packaging through increased recycled content, addressing problematic items and introducing widespread reuse and refill systems. 

They also require 100 percent of rigid plastic packaging to be designed for recyclability, 70 percent of flexible plastic packaging to be designed for recyclability, and a 55 percent output recycling rate for plastic packaging.

Outgoing Committee Recorded Measurable Progress

Under the previous committee’s guidance since 2024, the Pact published the 2024 Impact Report and the Design for Circularity Guide, launched the Plastic Reboot South Africa project and formally approved the new 2030 targets. 

The committee will guide Pact activities over the next two years, overseeing publication of the 2030 Roadmap, updates to the Design for Circularity Guidelines and On-Pack Recycling Label Guide, delivery of Plastic Reboot South Africa solutions and recruitment of new members.

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