MetPac-SA, a global leader in metal packaging solutions, is thrilled to announce the remarkable success of its fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place recently. This virtual event was attended by key stakeholders, board members and partners, marking a significant milestone in the association's journey towards sustainability and excellence.

The AGM served as a platform to discuss and celebrate the remarkable achievements and milestones MetPac-SA has reached in the past year, as well as outline the association’s ambitious goals for the future. Under the visionary leadership of Kishan Singh, CEO at MetPac-SA, the organisation has continued to thrive and excel in the ever-evolving metal packaging industry.

“The three main objectives of MetPac-SA are to operate as the appointed PRO on behalf of its Members, by taking on part of its members EPR related obligations and thereby to ensure its members EPR compliance; to reduce waste and improve recycling and re-use of metal packaging on an industry-wide basis; and finally to be acceptable in form and operation to the relevant stakeholders, including the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the metal industry. This year's Annual General Meeting was testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our entire MetPac-SA team. We are immensely proud of what we've accomplished and the positive impact we've had on metal in the packaging industry," Singh said.

Reporting on this highlights and successes of this past year, Singh said that the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) made significant strides in sustainability and environmental responsibility. It introduced several ground-breaking initiatives to increase the collection and recycling rates of both aluminium and ferrous (steel) packaging, minimise waste, and promote eco-friendly practices throughout its supply chain. These efforts have not only garnered recognition from industry peers but have also resonated with environmentally conscious consumers in South Africa.

“According to the declarations made by our members, more than 53 000 tons of aluminium packaging were placed on the local market during 2022. During this year, we managed to exceed both the product design (24 %) and recycling targets (30 %), and narrowly missed the collection target (60 %) and energy recovery target (32 %).

To increase collection and recycling efforts for the next financial year, MetPac-SA created working groups that meet monthly, is involved in the development of an ongoing Material Flow Analysis, has signed NDA’s signed with identified stakeholders (Buy Back Centres, Metal Recyclers, Waste to Energy) and is collecting data on material placed in the market, collected, recycled, and waste to energy/exported.

“We are confident that we will continue to meet the S18 targets that have been set for us by Government for this year,” Singh said. “We continue to work closely with our international and local counterparts as part of the PRO Alliance. Through the latter we are working hard to finalise a mechanism to register waste pickers on a national database, negotiating a service fee for waste pickers, driving national pilot studies and are looking at implementing the EPR online software strategy,” the CEO reported.

The association is also supporting various projects around the country aimed at raising awareness and understanding about the importance of recycling and making sure metal packaging remains in the circular economy. These include projects driven by Collect-a-Can, Packa-Ching, CL Trading, The Metal Recyclers Association, PETCO and the Plant the Seed foundation. 

Said Kishan: “We have achieved phenomenal successes with our “Trash 4 Treats” Schools Recycling Project, are proud to be a sponsor of the IPSA GoldPack Awards and will also be launching our own metal packaging survey over the next few months”.

New Board of Directors

Members were given the opportunity to vote for the new Board of Directors tasked with leading the PRO this next year.  The following leaders were selected:

Kishan Singh (CEO)Mark Helfrich of Nestlé (Chairman)Nozicelo Ngcobo of CCBA Group (Vice Chairman)Muhammed Darsot (Dürsots)Roxanne Stegen of HulaminKaren-Dawn Koen of the Oceana GroupJosh Hammann of AB-InBevDon MacFarlane of Woolworths

“This year’s Annual General Meeting was not just a reflection of our achievements this past year, but also a clear vision for the future. We are very excited about the journey that lies ahead. MetPac-SA is committed to being at the forefront of sustainable packaging solutions, as our members are dedicated to create metal packaging that are both functional and environmentally responsible.

Looking ahead, we believe MetPac-SA is poised for even greater achievements. Our strategic roadmap includes plans to expand our global and local presence, forge new partnerships with like-minded organisations, and continue pioneering advancements in sustainable packaging technology. These initiatives are in line with the association's long-term vision to lead the industry in sustainability and innovation. With the support of our industry, we will continue making a positive impact on our planet while delivering exceptional value to our members."