Sasol Integrated Report 2024 - Book - Page 96
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT SASOL
STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
BUSINESSES
ESG
REMUNERATION REPORT
DATA AND ASSURANCE / ADMINISTRATION
ENVIRONMENT continued
SUSTAINABLE USE OF PLASTICS
OUR COMMITMENT
Sasol commits to having a meaningful impact
on plastic waste leakage into the environment
through value-chain collaboration
on projects that contribute to a
circular economy.
OUR GROUP APPROACH
We acknowledge that plastic waste leakage into the environment is a concern, is unacceptable and we want to
make a meaningful impact by:
Executing our plastics sustainability approach through impact projects, innovation, education and collaboration;
Collaborating in the value chain on projects and initiatives that promote and develop circularity; and
Working with the government, relevant industry stakeholders and associations to maximise the impact of
our contribution.
PERFORMANCE
Plastics recovery programme
In November 2023, our Chemicals Business launched a plastics
recovery programme aimed at advancing plastic circularity. This
programme integrates initiatives in support of reducing plastic
pollution by developing a more circular value chain. The programme
includes work streams such as collection and sorting of plastic
waste, mechanical recycling and advanced recycling.
The programme will focus on the Vaal Triangle region with the
mission, “To use our scale, local presence and technical ability to
create value for Sasol and other stakeholders while reducing plastic
waste”. By integrating this value chain, we aim to positively impact
underserved communities in the area, generate employment
opportunities, enhance environmental cleanliness, and potentially
expand our business portfolio.
To date we have completed a waste baseline study of the Vaal
Triangle region to understand the waste footprint, challenges as
well as types of plastic and other recyclables available. The objective
is to assess potential options to improve waste recycling and
recovery in the region. On our efforts for a technology solution
for hard-to-recycle plastics, our discussions with a local pyrolysis
technology provider are focused on reaching an agreement to assist
in the development of a pyrolysis oil product, making it suitable
for refinery integration.
Partnerships
In March 2024, Sasol’s funding agreement of Polyco’s innovative
mobile recycling initiative, known as “Packa-Ching,” ended.
The contract, spanning five years, supported Packa-Ching’s
administrative costs and provided fuel subsidies for the mobile
recycling units. Polyco had established 25 mobile recycling units
and collected 18 million kilograms of recyclable waste.
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The communities served received R18 million in exchange for
their recyclable waste, and 105 jobs were created in the process.
Sasol and Polyco have in principle agreed to continue and we are
finalising the terms of a new agreement.
The Inkwazi Isu Project is a collaboration between various
stakeholders to address the pollution problem in the city of
Durban, with major role players from industry, local government
and civil society. The project aims to meet the plastic pollution
challenge through improving recycling infrastructure and education
which will address the overwhelming problems caused by poor
waste management. For Phase 1 Sasol provided grant funding
for the conversion of two municipal garden sites into recycling
buy-back centres. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) is
funding the upgrade of another ten sites. Phase 1 of the project is
in its third year of operation. In 2022, the project achieved a plastic
collection of 4 kiloton (kt). In 2023, with the upgrade of more
buy-back centres, 14 kt of plastic was collected and the forecast
for 2024 is 18 kt. A second phase is under development.
The success of Sasol’s partnership with AEPW on the Inkwasi
Isu Project in KwaZulu-Natal supported a decision to
renew our membership.
International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI)
on Plastics Pollution
In March 2022, Member states of the United Nations
Environment Assembly adopted a resolution to establish the
ILBI on plastic pollution.
At Sasol, we recognise that plastic pollution is a global problem
and is best addressed utilising a coordinated and globally aligned
response. As a result, we are working with government, industry
AEPW co-funded the Inkwasi Isu project and developing a 2nd phase of the project in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality.
SASOL INTEGRATED REPORT 2024
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bodies and other stakeholders to contribute to the development
of the ILBI through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on Plastics Pollution.
As a producer and supplier of polymer, we are committed to
sustainable development and the responsible use of plastics across
the value chain. Plastics allows many sectors of the economy the
ability to improve the quality of life for people. Plastics play a role in
food and water security, preservation and hygiene, retail packaging,
medical applications, personal care products as well as in the
renewable energy sector. We recognise that plastics should not
end up in the environment and that plastic pollution must end.
We therefore support an ILBI to end plastic pollution, and advance
sustainable development while accelerating the transition to a
circular economy for plastics.
