09 November 2020

The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Ms Barbara Creecy will on Thursday 12 November 2020, lead the Plastic Colloquium Feedback Session that is aimed at taking stock of what has happened since the hosting of the inaugural Colloquium last year.

During the session, different working groups will reflect on the progress and challenges with regards to implementation of the priorities agreed at the Plastic Colloquium in 2019. The 2019 Colloquium brought together all key stakeholders from government, industry and civil society to come up with clear objectives that will influence action to reduce littering and the huge quantities of plastic waste that are entering the country’s river systems, wetlands and the ocean.

Plastics and the plastic products industry contributed around R70bn to South Africa’s economy in 2019 – and according to Plastics SA, an estimated 60,000 people are employed in the plastics industry. However, plastic pollution has a significant impact on our very important eco-system services: those crucial services nature provides free of charge. Plastic waste undermines the flood absorption and water storage capacity of our wetlands. Plastic pollution threatens our oceans, catchments, river systems and estuaries and the crucial services they provide for people and nature.

The Plastic Colloquium feedback session is hosted jointly with the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) and Plastics SA, and will be convened as per the details below:

Date: Thursday, 12 November 2020
Time: 09:00
Link:  https://rebrand.ly/dam0l            

To RSVP, contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: pmbelengwa@environment.gov.za

Or

Ernest Mulibana
Cell: 082 263 7372
E-mail: emulibana@environment.gov.za

For media enquiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871