Polyco to deliver keynote address at the 9th Annual Green Youth Indaba during Youth Month

Ahead of Youth Day on the 16th of June, Polyco will be attending the Green Youth Indaba conference at the Durban International Convention Centre over the next two days. The event is expected to draw approximately 850 attendees, including senior government officials, industry experts, business executives and young leaders to discuss how skills development, entrepreneurship and green economic investments can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future for South Africa.

Polyco is a proud sponsor of the event and will be participating in the first panel discussion at the conference, which will focus on the role Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) can play in advancing sustainable waste solutions that benefit both the environment and society.

Polyco Executive Francois Marais, will also be delivering a keynote speech on day two of the conference on the implementation of national government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme and the progress achieved by registered PROs to improve recycling infrastructure and increase recycling and collection rates in the country.

The theme of the conference, “Nurturing Entrepreneurship, Cultivating Skills and Attracting Global Green Economy Investments for Job Creation,” resonates with Polyco’s broader commitment to educating the youth about recycling through its Million+ programme.

In collaboration with the Pick ‘n Pay School Club, Polyco has reached over 2.6 million learners to educate them on how to recycle plastic packaging while engaging with over 120 000 educators across the country from 2600 schools.

At the event, Kyle Dewar, Polyco’s Marketing Manager stated, “It’s been inspiring to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the attendees at the Indaba so far. As a responsible business advocate, we believe it’s crucial to empower young people to become drivers of sustainable change. At Polyco, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental education, awareness, and action to achieve our goal of eliminating plastic waste in South Africa’s environment.”

The conference follows two successful days of engagements at the Dakota Beach Cleanup and the Green Youth Careers Expo earlier this week.

On Monday, Polyco sponsored personal protective equipment (PPE) and sturdy bags for the beach clean-up event, where 150 participants collectively worked towards reclaiming waste and restoring the Dakota beach in Isipingo in the south of Durban.

On Tuesday, the Polyco team engaged with 300 attendees from four schools who were presented with various green career paths at the careers expo. Through interactive discussions, the team emphasised the importance of separation-at-source recycling and the value of plastic waste, encouraging the youth to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives.

Additionally, Polyco presented at the Wastepreneur Masterclass where attendees were educated on how to start a business in the waste sector and where to get funding. Polyco provided more information on the types of funding it offers to waste entrepreneurs as well as the assistance it provides to businesses, in particular, buy-back centres and enterprise development.

Polyco looks forward to its engagements with other key industry stakeholders over the next two days. By sharing its expertise and passion for sustainability, Polyco hopes to empower the next generation to embrace recycling and become champions of positive change.

Polyco remains committed to working with its members, government, the private sector and the youth to continue developing and innovating our country’s recycling capacity to end plastic waste and, at the same time, develop local economies and create jobs.

For more information about Polyco or the Million+ programme, please visit: www.polyco.co.za or www.millionplusrecyclers.co.za