Only 44.4% of South Africans have piped water inside their dwelling, with most having to collect water from an outside source. Through the Women in Water programme, the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) has resolved to help address the water collection challenges rural women face, and has facilitated the donation of 23 Hippo Water Rollers.

While water issues can impact anyone, the greater burden is placed on women, and the role of women in rural areas as the primary water collectors, is well known. This activity limits the productive activity of women, excludes them from income generating opportunities and, in some cases, even threatens their health and well-being.

WISA’s Women in Water initiative aims to address these challenges and make a difference in the lives of rural women. Women in Water The WISA Water Science Division held its second annual Women in Water Conference in October, 2017 under the theme ‘Making a splash’. Ayesha Laher of WISA’s Water Science Division explains that the aim of this conference was to look outside of the traditional water sectors like water treatment and water science.

Agricultural practices, which support food security but increase the demand for water, were identified as a focus area. WISA decided to partner with Hippo Roller and asked conference attendees to sponsor Hippo Water Rollers to be passed on to recipients who were in need. 

Uplifting food gardens The Paper Manufacturers (PAMSA) and Recycling (RecyclePaperZA) Associations of South Africa met this call and donated 10 Hippo Water Rollers to Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), a social enterprise that addresses the issues of food security and environmental sustainability.

One of these was handed over the Modimo Oteng Co-Operative in Marlboro Gardens, north east of Johannesburg, where a small group of six people, five women and one man, grow vegetables on a plot of land that was formerly a dump site.

Produce is sold for a small profit at a market in the upmarket area of Sandton, while some is donated to a nearby old age home. Another one of these rollers was donated to the Alexandra Greening route, established by Paul Maluleke as community tourism project under the Ecotourism Initiative and Department of Environmental Affairs.

The project encourages members of the community to grow their own food to sustain themselves and earn an income. Maluleke said would like see more young people getting involved in these initiatives in order to pass down indigenous knowledge to future generations.

The third food garden to receive a Hippo Water Roller was the Molobanyane Co-operative in Alexandra, run by Voilet Phala Mabaso, or Mam Vi (short for Mama, or Mother, Violet) as she is known in the community. Mam Vi grows mainly herbs on a section of land shared by several co-operatives.

She has grown her garden to supply produce to locals, markets and some restaurants and has even built her own drying room where she dries and pickles various produce. Mam Vi says she earns enough selling her produce to cover her living costs and pay the people who work for her.

She will use her Hippo Water Roller to store water for her saplings when the water is off – something she says is a fairly regular occurrence. FTFA will identify recipients for the remaining Water Hippo Rollers. Hippo Water Rollers The Hippo Water Roller Project was established in 1994 in response to the water access challenges faced by rural women and children across Africa. The South African invention is now in use in more than 25 countries, making it easy to collect water in tough rural conditions. The Hippo Roller holds up to five times more water than a single bucket (90ℓ) and is simple and easy to use. Grant Gibbs, Executive Director, Hippo Roller explained some of the key design elements that make the product though and user friendly:

1. The clip on handle allows the Hippo Roller to be easily pushed or pulled
2. A large opening allows easy access for cleaning, but is small enough to prevent small children from falling into the drum
3. A small recessed cap, the size of a standard bottle cap – making it easily replaceable – allows easy water pouring
4. A rounded bottom edge with a stable base allows the drum to be easily rolled upright

By Danielle Petterson| Editor: Water&Sanitation Africa

Community garden representatives receive Hippo Water Rollers

Mam Vi in her garden in Alexandra with the township of Alexandra behind her and the Sandton skyline on the horizon

The post Rolling out water first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

The United Nations International Day of Forests on 21 March 2017 will be marked by Forestry South Africa with the launch of an information and illustration-rich website, ‘Forestry Explained’. The International Day of Forests is about celebrating all forests, indigenous and commercial.      

Commercial forests are often forgotten despite the fact that they touch our lives in a myriad of ways. “From roof trusses and benches, to paper, packaging and tissue and the cellulose used in food and medicine, fibre from commercially grown trees plays an integral part in everyday life,” says Forestry South Africa executive director Michael Peter. “If we were to remove wood and paper-based products from our daily routines, we would soon appreciate the important function they perform.”

An indispensable sector

He adds that there is also more to forestry than planting and harvesting trees. “Thorough research, planning and management goes into keeping trees, and the land on which they grow, healthy and productive. The sector also provides jobs and supports communities.” Add to this the diverse animal and plant species that call forestry-owned land home, and you have an environmetally conscious sector that delivers an array of renewable, carbon neutral and versatile end-products.

At a local and personal level, forestry touches people – through the products they use every day without even knowing it – and communities, through education and skills development. Forestry also has a positive influence on climate change mitigation, provides a sustainable alternative to the deforestation of natural forests and is a renewable source of energy and construction materials.

One-stop guide to forestry

The new portal www.forestryexplained.co.za offers itself as ‘a beginner’s guide to forestry in South Africa’ and caters for users of all ages. It covers the basics of forestry and forest products, and everything from water-use to recreation, pest control, ownership and end-uses.

This one-stop resource offers in-depth but easy-to-read content supported by well-illustrated infographics and additional links for those who want to explore the industry further. It is ideal for learners and teachers.

Sustainably managed commercial forests should be celebrated for the benefits they bring to our daily life. To do this we need to understand them and the complex ecosystems that they are. Forestry Explained does this. It’s well worth a visit.

The Forestry Explained website supplements Forestry South Africa’s long-standing online directory platform www.forestry.co.za.

The post Forestryexplained.co.za – a fabulous forestry resource for all first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

Forests – in all forms – are essential to life on our planet. They provide clean air, water and climate regulation. As a renewable resource, forests are an important part of the solution to meeting global needs for foods, fuel, fibre, medicine and other essential products to our daily lives.

The global forest products industry is inherently renewable. ICFPA members are committed to sustainable forest management with some 300 million hectares of certified areas from which is sourced a significant amount of wood fibre used by the industry.
“By following best practices, well-managed forests of all types are a positively contribution to the provision of distinct products and services that are essential for human well-being and development. Thus our industry is helping to alleviate climate change impacts while provides social inclusion”, said ICFPA president Elizabeth de Carvalhaes.

“South Africa’s pulp and papermaking industry is built on the country’s large plantation forest industry, explains Jane Molony, executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) which is represented on the ICFPA. “Our plantations are managed in a sustainable manner, which means that as one tree is felled in one part of the forest, another is planted in another area. This ensures that the supply of trees for pulp and paper making is renewed into the future.”

Molony adds that trees are the source for thousands of products – from traditional products such as timber, pulp and paper and biomass energy to liquid biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, nanofibres or nanocrystals of cellulose to improve products used in such applications as automobiles, aerospace, defence, etc.

ICFPA is proud to represent the contributions of the global forest products industry to sustainable development, ensuring that environmental, social and economic benefits are available to current and future generations.

The 2015 ICFPA Sustainability Progress Report highlights the industry’s improvements across a range of sustainability indicators and focuses on the industry’s contributions toward a green economy, including the reduction on Greenhouse gas emissions intensity, the uptake in certified sustainably managed forests and a high paper recycling rate.

The ICFPA represents more than 30 national and regional forest and paper associations around the world. Together, ICFPA members represent over 90 percent of global paper production and half of global wood production.

For more information about the sustainability of the global forest and paper industry, visit icfpa.org.

The post Celebrating trees on International Day of Forests 2016 first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

Food migration issues have arisen as a result of packaging materials containing recycled fibres for which one of the primary raw materials is newspapers. Newspaper printing inks contain mineral oil as solvents, as do many commercial printing inks. During the recycling process only 90% of the printing ink components can be removed.  If these substrates are used for food packaging applications, the mineral oil compounds can migrate from the cardboard into the foodstuffs, even when an inner bag is used. Especially dry and greasy foods such as rice, pasta, cereal and chocolate products are affected.

Developed in partnership with BASF and Eurofins, the innovative flexpack substrate received very positive market feedback following its introduction at Fachpack 2013. Brand owners are now able to use their current recycled fibre based folding boxes, shelf ready packs and transport boxes.  The food inside will be protected by inner bags, pouches and sachets made from Sappi mineral oil barrier papers such as:

• Leine Guard M for inner bags combines Machine Glazed Bleached Kraft (MGBK) paper with the mineral oil barrier on the reverse side. It is available in 80 g/m²  to 120 g/m².
• Algro Guard M has been designed for gravure printed primary packaging such as pouches, sachets, bags and wrappers, and is available in 90 g/m² to 140 g/m². This grade incorporates a blade coating on the top side for gravure printability with the mineral oil barrier on the reverse side.

AlgroGuard M and Leine Guard M protect packaged food from mineral oil compounds that are a complex mixture of saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and unsaturated hydrocarbons (MOAH). This new mineral oil barrier functionality protect food for minimum 15 months; and as there is no use of PET or aluminium, it is a sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost effective material.

Efficient and sustainable substrate

“The integrated solution of mineral oil barrier functionality combined with excellent heat sealing properties minimise converting process steps and considerably reduce costs in the supply chain.” comments René Köhler, Product Group Manager Flexpack Sappi Fine Paper Europe.  In addition the integrated and recyclable paper grade solution is providing superior converting properties. Test have shown that the grades offering also a barrier against aroma and grease. As a result, Algro Guard M and Leine Guard M are highly efficient and sustainable mineral oil barrier packaging solutions for the food industry. Sappi Algro^® Guard M and Leine^® Guard M, will become commercially available beginning of June of 2014.

The post Sappi’s New Barrier Substrates Address Migration Concerns Mineral Oil first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

“Paper-based packaging plays an important role in minimizing food waste,” said ICFPA President Donna Harman. “By providing bio-based means to transport, protect and preserve food, our industry is helping to meet the needs of the growing global population.”

Paper-based packaging is made from a renewable resource – well-managed forests – and delivers a sustainable packaging option to bring food from the field to the home safely and in excellent condition: corrugated boxes protect food when it is shipped to stores; paperboard is used to package food for efficient stocking and display; and paper bags give customers an environmentally-friendly way to transport their purchases.

In addition, new and innovative paper-based packaging is continuously developed to increase functional use – including optimal food preservation – and to better serve consumers.

Paper and paper-based packaging industries around the world make great efforts to recover, and increase recovery of, their products for recycling. RISI data indicates that the global recovery rate for corrugated paperboard packaging is approaching 90 percent.

The ICFPA represents more than 30 national and regional forest and paper associations around the world, including the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa. Together, ICFPA members represent nearly 90 percent of global paper production and 50 percent of global wood production.

For more information about the sustainability of the global forest and paper industry, visit icfpa.org.

The post Global forest and paper industry highlights benefits of bio-based packaging at Interpack Trade Fair first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).