Woolies’ Ralph Jewson to chair SA Plastics Pact’s new steering committee

Woolworths sustainability project manager Ralph Jewson will chair the South African Plastics Pact’s new steering committee. The committee will represent members’ interests, guide the work of the secretariat, GreenCape, and make strategic decisions as the initiative works towards its ambitious 2030 targets.

6 Oct 2026

Image credit: [https://kaboompics.com/photo/42026/blue-plastic-sheet-abstract-texture-vertical-composition Kaboompics]]

Meet the new SA Plastics Pact’s steering committee:

Brand owners: Maritza van Dyk (PepsiCo SA) and Yase Godlo (Unilever).
Retailers: Vaughan Pierce (Pick n Pay) and Ralph Jewson (Woolworths).
Converters: Michelle Penlington (Polyoak Packaging) and Shivern Reddy (CCL Label SA).
Recyclers: Johann Conradie (Myplas) and Chandru Wadhwani (Extrupet).
Hospitality/food service: Joe Stead (Spur Corporation).
Waste collectors: Luyanda Hlatshwayo (African Reclaimers Organisation).
National and local government: Pamela Nxumalo (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)) and Alison Evans (City of Cape Town).
Non-Profit Organisation: Janine Osborne (Sustainable Seas Trust).
Pact Network Conveners: Andrea Cantu (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Andrea Cino (WRAP).

“Under Blain van Wyk’s leadership, the previous steering committee deserves great credit,” says Jewson.

“They guided the pact’s progress with significant impact, including strengthening our collaboration with the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.”

Life in plastic, it’s fantastic: Tuffy campaign gives plastic bottle tops a second life

5 Oct 2026

New committee, new vision

The new steering committee has outlined its strategic vision for the term ahead, says Jewson.

It will guide the pact’s activities over the next two years as members begin work towards the 2030 targets, which are to:

Target one: Reduce virgin fossil-fuel-based packaging intensity by 20% through increased recycled content, addressing problematic items, and introducing widespread reuse/refill systems.
Target two: Design 100% of rigid plastic packaging for recyclability.
Target three: Design 70% of flexible plastic packaging for recyclability.
Target four: Achieve a 55% output recycling rate for plastic packaging.

The steering committee will also oversee progress towards key strategic activities, including the imminent publication of the 2030 Roadmap, recurring updates to the Design for Circularity Guidelines and the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) Guide, the delivery of Plastic Reboot – South Africa solutions to tackle problematic items and increase reuse and refill systems, and the recruitment of new pact members.

“The imminent publication of our 2030 roadmap lays out the pathway and strategy for the work to come,” says Jewson.

“Our 2030 targets are ambitious and will further drive industry’s progress towards creating a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country, thereby stimulating job creation and driving local investment into the packaging market.”

Dyllon Randall co-founded a modular urine-to-fertiliser recovery system at the Cape Town Stadium, which recently collected 3,600 litres of urine during the South Africa vs New Zealand rugby game. Image supplied.

Cape Town Stadium urine-recycling innovator selected for 2026 Africa Prize

29 Sep 2026

Jewson also highlighted how the role aligns with Woolworths’ Good Business Journey.

“Woolworths’ vision is to be one of the world’s most responsible retailers, with sustainability at the core of our business,” he says.

“Packaging and waste are one of eight core focus areas of our Good Business Journey, and I look forward to contributing towards the pact’s direction moving forward.”