The first yoghurt manufacturer to sign the South African Plastic Pact:
In conversation with Diane Naicker, Packaging Development Manager, Danone South Africa.
Inspired by its vision One Planet. One Health, Danone South Africa is reducing the use of non-recyclable and non-reusable plastic in its packaging processes, sourcing sustainable materials and working with partners to create a second-life for all plastics. Danone’s guiding premise is that healthy food, if produced and brought to consumers sustainably, has the power to build a healthier future. This holistic approach encompasses packaging, as well as the strategic use of key resources including energy and water and sustainable agricultural practices.
What are Danone’s targets in terms of packaging and recyclable plastic material?
Danone is proudly one of the inaugural signatories to the SA Plastic Pact (SAPP) and supports its four key targets (by 2025) are:
- Act against problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (re-use) delivery models.
- 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
- 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.
- 70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled.
Research and Innovation expert at Danone’s Packaging Department Diane Naicker says: “Our business objectives and design processes are changing and Danone’s global vision One Planet. One Health helps us to drive this change.” Naicker continues to explain that Danone’s focus will be on SAPP’s first three targets as these are within our control. Danone is also supporting initiatives that promote and increase rates of recycling in South Africa, which is SAPP’s fourth target. However, we strive to go further: Danone SA’s ambitious target for 2020 is not only linked to plastic but to get to the end of this year with 90% of our packaging portfolio being recyclable or reusable.
What do you consider to be “problematic and unnecessary plastic” and why?
We consider any polymer material that cannot be reused or recycled problematic. Because if it’s not recyclable it’s not collected – so it ends up in landfill or waste in our environment and contributes to global warming. Materials that should be specifically avoided are PVC and laminates.
Unnecessary plastics are materials that are not needed to fulfil the functional needs of the product as well as in the supply chain. These materials are over-engineered to give greater protection and larger barrier properties than those required for the product or its supply chain. The negative effect is doubled: the product costs more and is more polluting to the environment.
Are any of your products already 100% recyclable and how do you prove this?
In mid-2019, we embarked on a drastic change of one of our brands by moving one-kilogram cups from polystyrene (PS) to polypropylene (PP) and replacing the polymer-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shrink sleeve labels to “in-mould” PP labels to make our preformed cups 100% recyclable. Our Tetra packs (1ltr & 500ml) and Gable cartons are designed to be 100% recyclable.
We measure and track the recyclability percentage of all our packaging through a “Design for Recyclability Tool” that was developed by Danone global. It classifies and colour-codes our packaging into four types: greens are recyclable (green), orange are tolerated, red are non-recyclable (red) and black packaging means it is not compliant with Danone’s One Planet commitments.
Can you quantify some of the impact of your novel strategies?
We continually assess our performance against various parameters. So, we can share that:
- In 2019, Danone SA diverted 770 tons less plastic from landfill sites by changing packaging for one brand from polystyrene (PS) to polypropylene (PP).
- During 2020, total volume of its recyclable packaging will grow to 90% (from 80% in 2019).
- We aim to eliminate all problematic packaging by 2025 as we are working towards this.
What other entities are you working with to support initiatives to reduce the damaging effect of plastic?
When our schools are fully operational after the COVID-19 lockdown, we will be ready to commence with a school-based projects that educates and mobilises our young generations to contribute to recycling and to equip schools with desks manufactured from recycled Danone packaging. This project will be rolled out as soon as possible in cooperation with selected partners. Collaborations with reclaimer associations are also an exciting priority.
So how has COVID-19 affected your targets towards plastic recycling and how have you addressed them?
Danone started the journey to recyclable packaging in 2015 and we have learnt that there isn’t a quick fix solution to achieve 100% packaging recyclability. It happens in incremental steps, starting with an assessment of what is currently in your packaging portfolio and using it to inform strategies to repackage the relevant brands. Danone welcomes opportunities to work with other dairy suppliers and corporates and manufacturers more broadly so we can share best practices and substantially magnify the impact of individual actions
DANONE PACKAGING POLICY, A SYSTEMATIC SHIFT FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR
