Latest news with #MpactRecycling
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Mpact reports mixed results: HEPS down, revenue up in challenging market
An Mpact Recycling operation at Bridge City, Kwamashu, north of Durban. The group operates across 38 sites in southern Africa, including 21 manufacturing and 14 recycling facilities. Image: Supplied Mpact's headline earnings a share (HEPS) from continuing operations will likely decline between 28% and 18.2% in the six months to June 30, even though revenue should increase by about 3%. The JSE-listed paper and plastics packaging group said in a trading statement on Wednesday that HEPS is expected to be between 88 and 100 cents per share, compared with 122.2 cents at the same time last year, in a persistently challenging trading environment. The group said uncertainty in local and global markets had contributed to poor business sentiment, despite that lower interest rates and lower inflation, and consumer demand remained weak. The detailed half-year results are expected to be released around August 4, 2025. Mpact directors said, however, they were making 'good progress' on development projects that focus on growth sectors and investments in innovative, higher-margin, and sustainable products. 'We remain confident in our value-enhancing strategy and future prospects,' they said. Revenue in the Paper business was up by about 7% due to higher containerboard sales volumes, partially offset by lower cartonboard and corrugated sales volumes. No commercial downtime was taken at Felixton and Mkhondo paper mills in the first half. Containerboard sales volumes increased due to growth in exports and market share gains in the local market, while carton board sales volumes were lower due to weak local demand and lower-priced imports, which resulted in some commercial downtime at the Springs paper mill. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Corrugated sales volumes were down due to weak industrial demand. Despite an overall increase in revenue, higher recovered paper prices, energy, and fixed costs resulted in lower operating profit for the Paper business. The Plastics business saw revenue fall by about 15% compared to the prior period. As anticipated, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) Wadeville's sales volumes were down "significantly" due to the expiration of two contracts with a major customer last year. 'Although the business has been able to find replacement customers for some of the lost volumes, the uptake has been slower than anticipated. Sales volumes were also down in Bins & Crates, mostly due to lower beverage crate sales, which were somewhat offset by good growth in agriculture crates,' the directors said. Historically, Bins & Crates' sales and profitability have been heavily weighted towards the second half of the year, and the trend is expected to remain the same this year. Both FMCG Pinetown and Atlantis experienced good sales volume growth, due to new projects and growth from existing customers. Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) were expected to decrease by about 15% compared with R731 million at the end of June 2024, and underlying operating profit by about 26% compared with R423m in June last year. Net debt decreased to about R2.99 billion from R3.23bn in the prior period. Mpact's share price fell slightly by 0.08% to R24.90 on the JSE on Wednesday afternoon - the price had trended downwards from R28.76 a year ago. Visit:
Zawya
06-02-2025
- Zawya
SA's solar boom poses new environmental threat: What to do with your old Li-ion batteries
With the affects of load shedding pushing solar installation in South Africa to its peak over the past few years, so came an increased demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) that power solar panel systems. However, improper disposal of these batteries has serious adverse implications for the environment, warns John Hunt, managing director at Mpact Recycling, so it is important to dispose of them responsibly. 'The South African market is relatively new in the consumption of LIB batteries, particularly those used for solar panels,' says Hunt. 'As their life cycles comes to an end, it is imperative that consumers are informed about how to dispose of them correctly.' Environmental impact and fire risk The improper disposal of LIB batteries is detrimental to South Africa's delicate ecosystems and water sources, endangering both wildlife and human health. Consumers must also consider the safe transportation of these batteries so as to avoid the risk of them breaking open, as they can leak dangerous materials that can cause harm. 'Consumers should not dispose of their batteries as part of household waste or in their recycling bins, as there is a chance that they could catch fire during transportation, at recycling centres or landfill sites,' explains Hunt. Safe disposal methods Proper disposal methods, such as safe battery collection programmes, established collection points and partnerships with local communities are essential to mitigating this risk. It is important to follow instructions from the manufacturer regarding packaging, some may provide instructions on securing the battery safely for transprortation to avoid illegal dumping. Simple steps like identifying the battery type and its manufacturer can lead you to recycling programmes that the manufacture might have in place. 'We recommend that they take them to specialised hazardous waste recycling collection points or contact service providers such as Circular Energy that offer safe e-waste collection. 'As stewards of the environment, we need to drive responsible consumption and promote healthy recycling practices not only for lithium batteries but all waste that could potentially end up in landfills.' 'We need to work together with suppliers of alternative solutions using LIBs to implement sustainable waste management practices,' he concludes. "We need to drive education and awareness to encourage individuals to take an active role in protecting our environment for future generations.'
