CAPE TOWN – The South African government has reaffirmed its commitment to mitigating plastic pollution, emphasizing a collaborative approach with the plastics industry and organized labour, sectors that maintain around 60,000 jobs.

According to South Africa Government News Agency, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Minister Barbara Creecy highlighted significant strides made in plastic waste management during the National Stakeholder Consultation Session on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s third session (INC-3) regarding the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.

Creecy underscored the dual focus of South Africa’s strategy: environmental preservation and economic sustainability. She noted that in the last two years, the country has seen the registration of five extended producer responsibility schemes, which have led to the removal of 368,600 tons of plastic waste and supported the livelihood of 60,000 to 90,000 waste reclaimers, alongside numerous cleanup and public education initiatives.

The Minister detailed how the retail and fast-food sectors have started replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable alternatives, further bolstered by new regulatory requirements for recycled content in plastic products. These moves are part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives, a central policy tool to reduce plastic pollution volumes.

Creecy outlined the guiding principles for the ongoing negotiations with the plastics sector:

All decisions should be based on robust scientific evidence regarding the environmental impact of plastic products.

Information on the chemicals used in plastic production should be openly and transparently shared, especially due to plastics’ various applications, including in food packaging.

The expected international instrument will likely necessitate new domestic regulatory controls.

Financing: Any mandatory international measures to mitigate plastic pollution should be matched by ambitious implementation means. This includes a financial mechanism to ensure predictable and adequate resources for developing countries to combat plastic pollution effectively.

Last year, South Africa backed the creation of an international legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly. Recognizing the constitutional responsibility to safeguard the environment and public health, the country signed up for a holistic approach that considers the entire lifecycle of plastic—from production to disposal—as outlined in the National Waste Management Strategy, 2020.

In alignment with these commitments, South Africa has concentrated on three primary areas: enhancing municipal waste management services, developing extended producer responsibility schemes promoting a circular economy, and bolstering public awareness alongside cleanup campaigns aimed at removing plastics from natural habitats like rivers, wetlands, and beaches.