SAB has developed a waste recovery programme in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg, supporting 54 previously unemployed young men and women organised into registered co-operatives and managing their own waste recycling businesses.
In just a few months of operation more than 700 tonnes of waste has been recycled, the majority of which (by weight) consists of glass.
The earth’s natural resources are increasingly coming under pressure as demand for increases alongside global consumerism. At the same time, significant value is lost by not maximising the recovery, recycling and reuse of products. ‘SAB recognises the importance of adopting a circular economy approach to its operations with a focus on product packaging,’ says Bishen Morgan, procurement director: Sustainability & Capabilities, SAB and AB InBev Africa.
By 2025, SAB expects 100 per cent of its packaging to be returnable or made from majority recycled content.
SAB has a three-pronged approach to achieving its 2025 goal:
- Approximately 85 per cent of SAB’s packaging is returnable and are re-used up to 18 times. This significantly reduces the amount of glass that is disposed of by consumers.
- The amount of material used in the production of packaging is reduced to minimise its weight.
- SAB collaborates with its suppliers to increase the amount of recycled material used to produce its packaging. Bottles used contain, on average, 41 per cent recycled content, and as high as 70 per cent for cans.
In addition to these efforts, one-way packaging in the market is recovered, alongside recyclable materials, and repurposed into packaging.
Waste collectors participating in the programme are provided with training on health and safety, business and financial literacy, upcycling and waste repurposing. In addition, SAB also supports them with assets, such as vehicles and waste processing equipment, to improve recovery and collection efficiencies.
‘Participants in the Tembisa recycling project have been able to put the infrastructure and training provided to good use and to help improve their lives. Equally, there is a culture of recycling being nurtured within the community which has an additional positive impact on everyone,’ says Sifiso Ngobese of Unconventional Waste, who managed implementation of the project.
The Tembisa project in turn is modelled on Manja Pamodzi, a successful recycling initiative supported by Zambian Breweries, which is part of the AB InBev group. Manja Pamodzi aims to financially empower women, and has created 226 jobs through collecting and recycling 3000 tons of waste to date and attain clean and healthy cities in Zambia.
‘Our commitment is clear, we are determined to work towards contributing towards a circular economy in South Africa, and indeed the rest of Africa, where waste is viewed as a resource, an opportunity to create jobs and a cleaner environment,’ says Morgan.
Building on the success of these programs, and working with key stakeholders in government and industry, SAB will be rolling out further programs in 2019 in South Africa.
