The Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC) of South Africa is proud to unveil its new-look website hosted on www.polystyrenepackaging.co.za.

According to Adri Spangenberg, director of PSPC, the new site has been designed to be a virtual showcase of the various applications of recycled polystyrene that have been developed in South Africa.

“In the four years since we launched our previous site, many more end-products and applications using recycled polystyrene have been developed. Where initially our focus had to be on educating visitors to the site on technical aspects concerning expanded polystyrene (EPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS), and convincing them of the product’s value and recyclability, the new site can now take a few steps further. By focussing on case studies and successful projects that are diverting thousands of tons of recycled polystyrene from landfills, we are able to develop even more end-markets and applications using high density recycled polystyrene,” says Spangenberg.

Facilitating Networking

PSPC had begun fulfilling a facilitation role between suppliers and buyers of recycled polystyrene on its previous website. Spangenberg  says this worked well as the organisation was able to build a valuable network and grow the recycling markets.  “We will continue this role and have even expanded this function on the new website, by including contact details and links to the various service providers on each of the various projects that work closely with the PSPC,” adds Spangenberg.

Library of technical information

The PSPS’s on-line library of technical information has also been simplified, and sees the addition of various new video’s to assist with the education and information processes. “The increasing use of YouTube videos during the past few years has helped to explain and simplify processes that previously sounded very hard to understand. Seeing how polystyrene is fed into a hammermill, for example, and how the entire recycling process practically works through a 3-minute video is hugely informative. With this knowledge comes power and a drive to make a difference through the simple act of recycling,” says Spangenberg.

The new website has also been optimised for search engines and can be used as a portal to host of other related websites, both locally and internationally.