Media releases

The awards are the showcase for the South African packaging industry, having grown from inception in 1973 into an event of considerable importance and prestige. Although the awards event is a celebration for everyone involved or interested in packaging, the competition for medals is fierce. Innovation is a contributing factor for awarding Gold Pack medals, while it is primarily excellence in packaging execution that creates medal winners.

The star of the show was the new PET Ultrazorb meat tray, PETZorb® produced by Mpact Versapak. It was awarded two gold medals in the “Food Packaging” and “Best in Plastics” categories and the prestigious IPSA Gold Pack 2021 trophy. The tray is fully recyclable and can be produced using food grade rPET. It also eliminates the need for an unnecessary packaging component, the non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, soaker pad.

With a competitive price point to ensure long term demand and market acceptance, this product makes use of advanced technology that incorporates the absorbency within the tray itself, even when displayed on the retail shelf at an angle. The tray absorbs almost double the amount of fluids over the same period as its absorbency pad alternative. Feasibility studies indicate that once the range has been fully launched, approximately 20 million less soaker pads will be utilised.

The 100% rHDPE 750ml and 1.5lt household cleaner bottles, produced by Mpact Plastics in Pinetown, won a gold award within the ‘Household Products’ category, as well as a gold within the ‘Judge’s Special Mention: Sustainability’ category. It supports the recycling of HDPE, reducing dependence on virgin material. It also creates a demand-pull for recycled plastics where infrastructure exists, thus stimulating investment in the collection and recycling industry and reducing the leakage of products into the environment.  By producing this as a generic pack, leading brands such as Unilever are enabled to support an environmentally friendly packaging option.

Mpact Corrugated walked away with another gold award with its recyclable Woolworths fresh herb fluted pots in the ‘Fibre Circle Paper Is Possible’ category. It also scooped up a silver award in the ‘Household Products’ category. These food-safe, biodegradable pots can be reused and recycled after use.

Detpack SA was awarded as a finalist in the ‘Transit and Secondary Packaging’ category for its Pargo Paper Courier Bag, a paper mailing bag strong enough to withstand the strain of countrywide shipping.

The Carpe Diem Raisin Tub earned Detpack SA and Mpact Plastics a finalist award in the ‘Food Packaging’ category. This innovative design of the tub ensures effective and food safe raisin processing.

“As a group, we strive for innovation excellence and develop practical, economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions that bring us closer to a true circular economy,” says Penny Ntuli, Mpact Group Communications Manager. “We are firmly committed to research, development and cost optimisation, as shown by the investment in skilled resources at our innovation centres.

In addition to these esteemed accolades, Mpact Plastics recently received two awards at the virtual South African Plastics Recycling Organisation Awards ceremony held in October 2021. The 100% rHDPE 750ml and 1.5lt household cleaner bottles and closures designed for Unilever were awarded a Gold award, while the new PET Ultrazorb tray, PETZorb, received a Silver award. Both products contribute to the country’s recycling efforts and demonstrate Mpact Group’s goal of ensuring a circular economy.

Awards summary

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About Mpact

Mpact is one of the largest paper and plastics packaging businesses in southern Africa, with leading market positions in recovered paper collection, corrugated packaging, recycled-based cartonboard and containerboard, polyethylene-terephthalate (”PET”) preforms and trays, recycled PET (”PET”) and plastic jumbo bins. These market positions allow Mpact to meet the increasing requirements of its customers and achieve economies of scale and cost effectiveness at the various operations.

Mpact has 40 operating sites, of which 22 are manufacturing operations, in South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique. Sales in South Africa account for approximately 89% of Mpact’s total revenue for the current year while the balance was predominantly to customers in the rest of Africa.

As at 31 December 2020 Mpact employed 5,053 people (December 2019: 5,142 people).

For further information contact:

Penny Ntuli
Tel: 011 994 5547 | 063 684 5846
Email: pntuli@mpact.co.za