Mpact Plastics brings home the IPSA Gold Pack 2021 trophy and four gold awards

We are extremely proud to have featured strongly at the recent Gold Pack awards ceremony, held at the Inanda Club in Sandton on 23 November.

The star of the show was our new PET Ultrazorb meat tray, PETZorb® produced by Mpact Versapak. It was awarded 2 gold medals in the “Food Packaging” and “Best in Plastics” categories and, also brought the IPSA Gold pack 2021 trophy home! It is fully recyclable and can be produced using food grade rPET. It eliminates the need for an unnecessary packaging component, the non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, soaker pad.

Feasibility studies indicate that once the range has been fully launched, approximately 20 million less soaker pads will be utilised. Converted raw material tonnage is estimated at 50T per month.

With a competitive price point to ensure long term demand and market acceptance, the PETZorb tray 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.

Wessel Oelofse, GM of Mpact Versapak, emphasises that “innovation is the only way to move forward and ensure that we reduce the impact of packaging on the environment and our people. We are very proud to win the award for this truly exceptional product that can potentially change the entire landscape, in this category, in South Africa.”

The 100% rHDPE 750ml and 1.5lt household cleaner bottles, produced by Mpact Plastics 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 whilst creating 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, we are enabling leading brands such as Unilever to support an environmentally friendly packaging option.

Paul Visagie, GM of Mpact Plastics’ Pinetown plant shares that “Sustainable development is not an automatic development, it requires intentional innovation and a few brave steps along the way. The initial steps are challenging but, together with teamwork among suppliers, converters and customers, it certainly paves the way for success.”

Neelin concludes that these awards recognise the enormous efforts at Mpact Plastics on a holistic approach in developing practical, economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions that bring South Africa closer to a true circular economy.

Mpact Plastics is a leading producer of rigid plastic packaging and cling film in southern Africa. We operate out of nine production centres across the country, providing packaging from plants with relevant certifications. We service the food, beverage, personal care, home care, pharmaceutical, agricultural and retail markets. In upholding company values, and as a supporter of the circular economy, we positively contribute to industry associations, enabling various communities to participate in recycling solutions.