The South African Plastics Recyclers’ Organisation (SAPRO) has announced that entries are now open for its “Best Recycled Plastics Product of the Year Competition”, which will be hosted this year in collaboration with Plastics|SA and two leading recycling machinery manufactureres, EREMA Engineering Recycling Machinery & Facilities, and Starlinger Recycling Technology.

 

According to Annabé Pretorius of SAPRO, this will be the 5th year that the competition takes place, drawing entries from around the country.  “Recycling is not regarded as a very glamorous industry.  Although conditions are tough and the work hard, it is an industry that is fuelled by passion and creativity.

“The SAPRO Best Recycled Product competition therefore offers the ideal platform to honour recyclers and all the parties involved in the value chain for their commitment to diverting waste away from our country’s landfills. It acknowledges products that are made from recycled materials, and encourages brand owners and industrial designers to consider recycled plastics as a material of choice”.

This year’s competition invites entrants in the following five product categories:

• Products made from 100 % recyclate
• Products made from 100 % post-consumer recyclate
• Products containing a percentage post-consumer recyclate
• Products made from recycled mixed materials
• Novel and artistic products – i.e. articles made from discarded plastics products

A winner will be selected in each of the above categories, with the overall winner being awarded the SAPRO trophy for the Best Recycled Product of the year during the gala dinner that will take place on Friday, 18 September 2015 at the Spier Wine Estate, in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.

Previous years’ overall winners include Tufflex with iits Narrow Gauge Rail Sleeper (2010), Polypet with its Woolworths 1½ litre Juice Bottle (2011), Lasher Tools with its Ecobarrow (2012) and Unilever SA with its Sunlight Dishwashing Bottle (2013).

Each entry will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Life expectancy of product
• Sustainability of product, i.e. long-term demand and market acceptance of product
• Measures taken to ensure product consistency and customer satisfaction despite recycled material content
• Tonnage (potential tonnages) converted
• Technical achievements in manufacturing to overcome recycled material challenges
• Replacement of alternative materials
• ‘Wow’ factor

No entries will be accepted after 14:00 on Monday, 3 August 2015.

 

For further information about the competition, please contact Annabe Pretorius on 083 654-8967 or via email at Annabe@absamail.co.za