By some estimates a dump truck of plastic empties into the sea every minute, and it is expected to stay there for centuries. Global plastic production reached 335 million tons in 2016, much of which ended up in the world's oceans, streams and rivers. Growing public antipathy towards this waste - much of which is packaging - has placed considerable pressure on retailers and the producers of plastic products and packaging to find alternatives. This month Woolworths said it planned to phase out nonrecyclable plastic packaging for its own products, as well as plastic shopping bags, straws and earbuds, by 2022. This follows a global retail trend among retailers. Andre Nel, general manager for sustainability at Pick n Pay, said the group planned to use as much recycled material as possible in its packaging while at the same time avoiding any effect on the integrity of its products. This included using recycled plastic for its own products, such as plastic punnets for fresh fruit and veget...
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