Hosted by Dr Vincent Ojijo, CSIR Research Group leader: Advanced Polymers and Composites

South Africa, like the rest of the world, is grappling with plastic pollution and unsustainable utilisation of plastic materials. A recent publication by The Pew Charitable Trusts and Sytemiq estimates that the annual flow of plastics into the ocean will be approximately 23 to 37 million metric tons per year, tripling the current statistics. This is equivalent to 50 kg per metre of the world’s coastline. This is a complex problem that requires interventions from various stakeholders. Therefore, this panel discussion is aimed at fostering conversations around possible intervention strategies, including reduction, substitution, recycling and disposal, and their relevance to the South African context.

Dr Vincent Ojijo, CSIR Research Group leader: Advanced Polymers and Composites (Host); Dr Henry Roman, Acting Chief Director: Sector Innovation and Green Economy; Dr Virendra Kumar Gupta, Head, R&D Polymer and Senior Vice President, Reliance Industries Limited, Navi Mumbai; Kirsten Barnes, Project Lead on South African Plastics Pact, GreenCape; Dr Linda Godfrey, CSIR Principal Scientist; Anton Hanekom, Executive Director of Plastics|SA; Thokozani Masilela, Portfolio: Director Plastics, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition; Avashnee Chetty, Sustainability Manager, Safripol