Latest news with #RVM
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Pick n Pay celebrates World Environment Day with major recycling milestone
Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative grew into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Image: Supplied. Marking World Environment Day 2025 on 5 June 2025, with this year's theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution', South Africa's major retailer, Pick n Pay celebrated a major environmental milestone: its Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) customer recycling initiative, which has now diverted over 1.1 million plastic and packaging recyclable items from landfill. Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative grew into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Each machine accepts recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass containers, and rewards customers with Smart Shopper loyalty points, which can be used for everyday purchases. 'What started as a small test has evolved into a movement. This programme has shown that people are willing to recycle when it's made convenient, accessible, and rewarding,' Riley van Rooyen, Sustainability Lead at Pick n Pay, said. As of May 2025, the initiative collected and diverted over 1.1 million recyclable items from landfill, resulting in over 80 000 kgs of waste recycled and an estimated 1 200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided. Customers received a total of over R135 000 in recycling rewards since the pilot launched, and over R56 000 in Smart Shopper points since the integration with the programme in August last year. Each machine can hold up to 750 items and uses barcode recognition technology to ensure the correct sorting of recyclables. 'Ending plastic pollution isn't a one-day project. But this initiative proves that scalable, community-led environmental solutions work. And on this World Environment Day, we're proud to celebrate our plastic reduction initiatives wins with our customers and our partners in the project, who've helped us take over a million small steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,' van Rooyen added. The retailer has exceeded its Plastic Pact 2025 target for packaging weight, reporting a 38% reduction in average packaging weight. This also builds on the retailer's broader efforts to reduce waste in the environment. Last year, it diverted nearly 13,000 tonnes of waste from its stores, equivalent to the weight of approximately 2 100 average adult male elephants Through its regular beach clean-ups, it has removed nearly 2,000kg of plastic waste from local beaches over the past five years.
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Pick n Pay celebrates major environmental milestone
To mark World Environment Day 2025 on Thursday, 5 June and this year's theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution', Pick n Pay is celebrating a major environmental milestone. Its Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) customer recycling initiative has diverted over 1.1 million plastic and packaging recyclable items from landfill. The milestone marks a significant win in Pick n Pay's long-term commitment to supporting circular economies and empowering everyday shoppers to play a direct role in reducing plastic waste. Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative has grown into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Twelve new RVM machines were added in the past 12 months. Each machine accepts recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass containers, and rewards customers with Smart Shopper loyalty points, which can be used for everyday purchases. 'What started as a small test has evolved into a movement. This programme has shown that people are willing to recycle when it's made convenient, accessible, and rewarding,' says Riley van Rooyen, Sustainability Lead at Pick n Pay, reflecting on the success of the programme. As of May 2025, the initiative has collected and diverted over 1.1 million recyclable items from landfill, resulting in over 80 000kg of waste recycled and an estimated 1 200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided. Customers have received a total of over R135 000 in recycling rewards since the pilot launched, and over R56 000 in Smart Shopper points since the integration with the programme in August last year. Each machine can hold up to 750 items and uses barcode recognition technology to ensure the correct sorting of recyclables. Customers simply scan their items and instantly receive Smart Shopper points, which they tend to use for groceries, airtime, and data. Prior to the integration with Smart Shopper, customers received recycling rewards through Imagined Earth. 'Ending plastic pollution isn't a one-day project. But this initiative proves that scalable, community-led environmental solutions work. And on this World Environment Day, we're proud to celebrate our plastic reduction initiatives wins with our customers and our partners in the project, who've helped us take over a million small steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,' says Van Rooyen. Despite focusing on a wider business turnaround strategy in FY25, Pick n Pay's sustainability team continued to deliver meaningful progress. By prioritising high-impact, customer-facing initiatives – such as RVMs and packaging innovations – Pick n Pay maintained momentum on key environmental goals. The retailer has exceeded its Plastic Pact 2025 target for packaging weight, reporting a 38% reduction in average packaging weight. This also builds on the retailer's broader efforts to reduce waste in the environment. Last year, it diverted nearly 13 000 tonnes of waste from its stores, the weight of approximately 2 100 average male adult elephants. Through its regular beach clean-ups, it has removed nearly 2 000kg of plastic waste from local beaches over the past five years. 1. Fourways Mall 2. Fourways Crossing 3. New Redruth 4. Waterkloof Rand 5. Benmore 6. Southgate 7. Key West 8. Dainfern Square 9. Lenasia 10. Kensington 11. Bedfordview 12. Randburg Square 13. Montana 14. Southdowns 15. Plantland 16. Hazeldean Square 17. Irene Village Mall 18. Boksburg 19. Hyper Centurion 20. Greenstone Hyper 21. Sasolburg 22. Vaal Mall 23. Three Rivers 24. The Glen 25. Mall Of Africa 26. Rosebank 27. The Falls 28. Carnival Mall 29. Kyalami on Main 30. Sunward Park 31. Primrose 32. Kenilworth Centre 33. Constantia 34. V&A Waterfront 35. Gardens 36. Umhlanga Crescent 37. Hilton Family 38. Summerstrand 39. Blue Hills Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Earn Re 1 for crushing a plastic bottle in Karnataka from this World Environment Day
Bengaluru: Soon, an empty water bottle that you trash as waste could fetch you money! All you need to do is drop those bottles into a reverse vending machine (RVM) set up by urban local bodies at various locations in your city. The RVMs will not just crush and shred the bottle, but also give you Rs 1 in return per bottle. Determined to make Karnataka plastic-free, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) planned to unveil these RVMs in front of Vidhana Soudha during Environment Day celebrations on June 5. Buoyed by a pilot initiative in Hubballi a few weeks ago, the board submitted a proposal to the state govt for installation within the limits of city corporations and municipalities. PM Narendraswamy, chairperson of KSPCB, said, "If you incentivise anything, people will respond to it. Earlier, there was hardly any response to shredding machines as there were no incentives. But now the machines will give you a coin (Re 1) for every bottle that you deposit. If you do not drop, at least the rag pickers who collect these bottles will drop them at these machines as they will get money." Swamy clarified the machines will be installed by its manufacturer and hence, will not cost anything to the govt. "We only need to provide them with space and operational requirements. For them, the crushed, shredded plastic will be the revenue," he clarified. KSPCB also claimed it would go plastic-free and would recommend the govt to also embrace plastic-free administration aligning with the United Nations' motto 'End Plastic Pollution' from June 5. Close on the lines of KSPCB, completing 50 years, a year-long celebration has been planned with a lot of awareness activities.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
KSPCB chooses ‘End Plastic Pollution' as Environment Day theme
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has chosen 'End Plastic Pollution' as the theme of World Environment Day which will be celebrated on June 5. KSPCB Chairman P.M. Narendraswamy on Thursday said that various events will be held in Bengaluru to mark the day, including a mass tree plantation drive, photo contest, green selfie challenge, online quiz contest, graffiti contest, walkathon and cyclothon. Exhibitions on sustainable product demonstration, green energy demonstration, showcase of startups in new technologies, carbon credit for farmers concept promotion, e-waste recycling programme, and documentary screening of Environment related progrmmes will also be held. He added that an environment awareness campaign, street play, carbon footprint awareness, carbon footprint audit for organisations and waste audit awareness would also be organised on the occasion. An environmental walk will also be organised in front of the steps on the entrance of the Vidhana Soudha, and around 3,000 people, including ministers, dignitaries, officers, Scouts and Guides, and NCC Cadets, will participate in the celebrations to spread environmental concerns. Mr. Narendraswamy said Chief Minister Siddaramiah will hand over the Karnataka State Environment Awards to individuals and organisations who have rendered significant services in the field of environment protection. He said that ₹50 lakh would be provided to producing or making environment related films. He added that KSPCB has proposed installing Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) in local civic bodies to recycle plastic bottles. 'When plastic bottles are inserted into the RVM kiosks they will be crushed and in turn it will reward ₹ 1 to the person depositing the plastic bottle. By this way we can keep our cities clean, recycle the plastic and the person who deposits the bottle will also get a reward,' he added. S.S. Lingaraja, member secretary, KSPCB said about 1,65,000 checks have been conducted across the state in the last three years, during which around 1,012 tonnes of banned plastics have been seized and a fine of ₹5.6 crore has been collected.
Al Etihad
30-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
EAD recovers 2,000+ tonnes of bottles since launch of Bottle Return Scheme
30 Apr 2025 10:13 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has recovered more than 2,000 tonnes of bottles since the launch of the Bottle Return Scheme in 2023. Following the launch of the scheme, the Environment Agency– Abu Dhabi, along with Sparklo, EAD's strategic oversight and cleantech leader, also collected 23 million recyclables in 2024. The scheme, part of the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic policy, empowered residents to adopt responsible waste disposal agency has collaborated with several partners from the retail industry, waste operators and cleantech providers, and with Sparklo, deployed more than 100 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), known as Sparklomats, across Abu Dhabi, with retail outlets of ADNOC, Lulu and Carrefour, offering convenient return access points for plastic bottles and aluminium 23 million recyclables collected in 2024 alone, included more than 544,000kg of plastic and 18,000kg of aluminium. The cumulative impact of this initiative has prevented more than 3.5 million kg of CO₂ emissions, aligning with Abu Dhabi's ambitious goal of a 22 per cent carbon emissions reduction by 2027. In a single-day milestone, one Sparklomat processed more than 8,500 items, setting a record for individual unit Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Integrated Environmental Planning and Policy Sector at EAD, said: 'We seek to integrate sustainability practices into daily life in the emirate. The EAD-led Bottle Return Scheme, held in collaboration with private sector organisations, including Sparklo, embodies the importance of partnerships, technology, and community engagement in creating a sustainable environmental impact." She added, "This initiative, with its objectives, represents a strategic investment that consolidates the concept of environmental responsibility. By supporting the principles of the circular economy, we seek to strengthen Abu Dhabi's leading position in the global transformation towards building a sustainable future.'For his part, Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo, said: 'The partnership with EAD exemplifies the success of government-private sector collaboration. With EAD's unwavering support, we have expanded the RVM network, contributing directly to Abu Dhabi's sustainability agenda. The results speak for themselves – when recycling is made simple and engaging, communities embrace the change, reinforcing the role of practical solutions in environmental progress.' As EAD and Sparklo continue to scale the initiative, efforts will focus on expanding the RVM network and deepening community engagement, further solidifying Abu Dhabi's leadership in sustainable innovation. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
