Business News of Tuesday, 22 January 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-01-22
A worker arranging the bottles into a sack
Environment360, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has announced a partnership with Qualiplast, one of the largest plastic producers in Ghana, to help support the collection of bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by informal workers in Kumasi.
The partnership between the two parties is expected to leverage on Qualiplast’s transportation network to ensure that PET bottles collected in Kumasi are transported into Accra, Environment 360 announced in a statement.
“Plastic bottles, once in Accra, are further processed by Environment360 and then sold unto a third party that creates plastic straps for packaging,” the statement said.
“The project, which is supported by GIZ through funding through the partnership between Ghana and the German Federal State of Northern Rhine-Westphalia, seeks to decrease the amount of plastic litter found in Kumasi by creating a sustainable collection system for PET bottles by informal sector workers. To help support the collection of the plastic bottles, Environment360 pays a financial incentive to informal sector workers participating; thereby initiating the first takeback program of PET bottles in the area. The program has already shown great potential, with informal sector workers gathering nearly 2 tons of plastic bottles within two weeks.
“To support the sustainability of the project, Environment360 provides a variety of tailored capacity building, business and leadership training that help strengthen the voice of informal sector workers and improve collection methods and business practices”.
Bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, sometimes PETE) can be used to make lower grade products, such as carpets.
Founded in 1973 Qualiplast is one of the largest plastic packaging manufacturers in Ghana, offering clients a wide variety of plastic products including, beverage and storage containers.
