The 2024 Best Recycled Product of the Year Awards were announced at a gala dinner in Cape Town, with recycled PVC products stealing the spotlight.  

The event, which was organised by the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO), saw three innovative products made from recycled PVC. 

These dominated the building and construction category, impressing the judges with their creative approach to waste reduction and sustainability. 

Judging panel and criteria 

The judges for the competition represented Plastics|SA, Polyco, the CSIR, Media24 and Waste Plan.  

Entries were judged against these criteria:  

• Uniqueness. 
• Difficulty to recycle.  
• Technical achievement/manufacturing excellence.  
• Market acceptance/marketability. 
• Fit for purpose. 
• Tonnages recycled and percentage recycled content.  

Winning products 

Gold award winner: Taking home the top honours was NowaTech’s PVC decking planks, made from recycled PVC pipes and bottles (primarily honey and bubble bath bottles).  

The judges praised NowaTech for the innovative use of recycled materials, noting the product’s durability and contribution to reducing plastic waste. 

Silver award winner: PVC sewage pipes for low-cost housing developments. These pipes, made from recycled loyalty and gift cards, offer an affordable and sustainable solution for infrastructure development while diverting significant volumes of plastic from landfills. 

Bronze award winner: Tuff Floors, with its range of interlocking floor tiles made from recycled PVC, rounded off the category winners. Its product was commended for its versatility and ease of installation in both commercial and residential projects. 

Industry reaction 

Monique Hinds, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA), expressed her excitement at the accomplishments of the PVC industry, saying: “This is a significant achievement for the PVC recycling sector.  

“Despite continued successes in increasing recycling and collection rates for PVC in South Africa, there are still many people who mistakenly believe that PVC is not recycled or recyclable. Awards such as the SAPRO Awards are crucial in changing this perception. 

“They highlight the innovation and commitment within our industry to reduce waste and unlock the value hidden in recycled plastics.” 

NowaTech’s PVC decking planks, made from recycled PVC pipes and bottles (primarily honey and bubble bath bottles).

Driving recycling 

Hinds added: “We are incredibly proud of our brand owners and recyclers for their dedication to creating sustainable solutions. Innovative thinking and the development of new end-markets are essential to drive recycling efforts in South Africa.” 

As the PVC industry continues to challenge outdated notions and push the boundaries of recycling, events like the SAPRO Awards underscore the important role that plastic recyclers play in reducing the environmental impact and fostering a circular economy. 

Voluntary industry association, SAVA, commends the recycled PVC products that excelled in the building and construction category of the SAPRO Awards, taking the top three places.  

Acknowledgement and thanks go to www.savinyls.co.za for the information in this article. For more information, visit www.plasticrecyclingsa.co.za.