PLASTICS SA APPOINTS INDUSTRY VETERAN AS EXECUTIVE: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS, AND REVEALS PLANS FOR NEW KNOWLEDGE BASE THAT WILL SERVE THE INDUSTRY
Plastics SA has appointed industry veteran and plastics recycling expert Annabé Pretorius as Executive: Technical Operations, at the company’s head office in Midrand, Gauteng. This brand-new position has been created to meet the growing demand for technical and industry information that is up-to-date, region specific and easily accessible.
The need for current, evidence-based industry information and relevant trade data has become critical. Industry members, students, researchers, journalists, academics and members of the general public search online sources to find answers to their questions about the health and safety of plastics, its recyclability and versatility. Unfortunately, in many cases the articles and resources that are easiest to find are dated or publish unsubstantiated information that has very little bearing on our South African context. Few journalists and researchers take the time to conduct live interviews or to check their facts. As a result, we keep on seeing the same erroneous material being repeated in the media and used to draw inaccurate conclusions. We are hoping that this new position will become a valuable repository of factual and well-researched data that will correct these misconceptions and half-truths.
Plastics SA is intent on further expanding its technical skills and knowledge base this year in order to offer ongoing technical support to its members and the industry at large. We will continue to grow the team with a strong focus on research and development and are hoping to attract the most experienced minds to help us grow, expand and support the industry. These new positions will be responsible for gathering relevant data, interpreting the information and turning it into a tool that can be used by role players, policymakers and other interested parties to make informed decisions.
A second area of priority for Plastics SA will be on strengthening the industry’s capacity on trade-related issues. Here we will be looking at appointing an Industry Growth and Trade Specialist who will focus on creating and enabling access to information about the local and international trade environment for the development of sustainable and inclusive growth of the industry. The new incumbent will work closely with the various government departments and institutions to ensure fair trade for materials and goods from, and into, South Africa.
With its integrated value chain, no plastics role or function can operate independently. We see our new Technical Operations Department as the “missing link” which will benefit the entire industry by creating a credible dashboard with facts, figures and developing a pro-active strategy. International rules and policies, trade agreements and conventions change almost daily, and we believe this new knowledge base will position the South African plastics industry in such a way that we can tap into all the opportunities.
ANTON HANEKOM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
