Earlier today, Minister of Environmental Affairs Ms. Edna Molewa officially unveiled Mpact Polymers in Wadeville, Germiston. The new bottle-to-bottle facility will produce recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), which is the recycled raw material used for the manufacturing of new PET bottles from previously used PET bottles. rPET is a substitute for virgin PET, which is derived from crude oil.
The R350-million state-of-the-art operation’s recycling process complies with European Union (EU) Food Safety Authority specificationsand is the first in Africa to meet The Coca-Cola Company’s full certification for PET bottles to package the company’s soft drinks.
The operation enjoys the backing of the departments of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Trade and Industry (DTI) and Economic Development (EDD) in promoting job creation, reducing waste to landfill and improving rPET production that will ultimately help to reduce the carbon footprint of the food and beverage industry.