TECH & INNOVATION: LolaGreen, turning plastic waste into durable tiles.

Loading player...
The argument over the years has been circulating around looking for alternative replacements for plastics, or the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Some further argue that the most effective way to reduce plastic pollution is to not make them in the first place. Reality check appears otherwise. In short, there is no one way to deal with this problem, it's practically a 'wicked problem'. Collaborations of different stakeholders seem to be a better approach I think. We can sit and talk all we want, but action is what's needed. To put things into perspective, imagine that a garbage truck full of plastics is dumped into the ocean every minute. I think that's painful to know. A huge blow to our ecosystems. The obvious effects of plastic waste are the contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately impacting climate change.
In South Africa alone the minimum plastic waste generated per capita is 41 kg per annum vs 29 kg globally. Reports also indicate that the minimum lifetime cost to our country of the plastic produced in 2019 is R885 billion, including damage to fishing and tourism industries, clean-up costs as well as health threats to humans and wildlife.
6 Sep 2022 5AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA’s Car Market in Digital: Prices, Choices & Value

Cars.co.za’s Alan Quinn unpacks the digital trends shaping South Africa’s car market — from value migration and tax‑driven pricing distortions to the rise of Chinese and Indian brands. We explore what consumers really need to know when navigating one of the most complex buying environments in years.
23 Jun 4PM 12 min

Millennials & Gen Z Rewrite SA’s Vehicle Market

Absa’s Fulufhelo Mandane reveals new data showing a surge in new‑car purchases among young South Africans, despite affordability pressures. We explore shifting preferences, longer repayment terms, and the rise of value‑driven models reshaping the future of SA’s vehicle market.
23 Jun 4PM 17 min

SA Car Buyers Pull Back as Confidence Crashes

Wesbank Economist Thanda Sithole unpacks the sharp fall in consumer confidence, the impact of soaring fuel prices, and how these pressures are reshaping South Africa’s vehicle‑buying behaviour. From delayed purchases to stretched finance terms, we explore what lies ahead for the auto sector in 2026.
23 Jun 4PM 18 min

Building South Africa’s Auto Technician of the Future

Ford’s Kevin Heunis discusses the growing shortage of critical technical skills, the need for vocational pathways, and how programmes like Ford’s Autotechnician Apprentice Scholarship are preparing young people for a tech‑driven automotive future. A Youth Month conversation on skills, opportunity and industry readiness.
23 Jun 4PM 12 min

Funding the SMME Hustle: Traditional Meets Alternative Finance

Old Mutual’s Ndumiso Zulu and Lula’s Clinton Thomas unpack the real funding landscape for South African SMEs — from cash‑flow pressure to investment readiness, construction‑sector bottlenecks, and why only 6% of SMEs access formal finance. They explore how blended support, alternative lending models, and faster payment cycles can unlock the…
22 Jun 4PM 26 min