A new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flaking plant has been inaugurated in Okahandja, Namibia, following a N$24 million investment by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Namibia and Plastic Packaging. This investment doubles the capacity of the country’s only mechanical recycler of plastic waste.
The inauguration ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta. Tshidi Ramogase, Chief Public Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability Officer at CCBA, highlighted the company’s commitment to driving systemic change through a circular economy for packaging. She stated, “We have a responsibility to help solve complex plastic waste challenges facing our planet and society, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach to achieve our sustainability goals and reduce packaging waste.”
Ramogase emphasized the environmental and economic benefits of supporting a circular economy for packaging, noting that recycling has the potential to create jobs and empower the informal waste collection sector. She explained, “Unlike a traditional linear economy in which packaging is made, used, and disposed of; a circular economy preserves the economic value of packaging through robust collection and recycling systems.”
The new recycling facility, operated by Namibia Polymer Recyclers (NPR), a subsidiary of Plastic Packaging, will have the capacity to recycle up to 500 tons of PET material per month. The plant will transform discarded beverage bottles into PET flakes, which have an international market value. This process reduces the need for virgin PET, while diverting waste from landfills and the environment.
Ramogase concluded by stating, “At CCBA, we are a proud industry leader in developing increasingly sustainable ways to produce, distribute, and sell our products. We use our industry leadership to be part of the solution to achieve positive change and to build a more sustainable future for our planet.”