Yoghurt tubs now new desks in local schools

Danone, which has a manufacturing facility in Boksburg, has taken on the challenge to provide Covid-19-compliant desks to seven early childhood development (ECD) schools, five of which are based in Ekurhuleni.

The schools are Fairyland Crèche, Lefa La Gago Crèche, Urban Comet/Urban Ruins Pre-school, Dawn Park Pre-Primary, which are all in Boksburg, and Little Lamb Preschool in Benoni.

The desks will be distributed between January 27 and February 15 as part of the company’s Day One campaign, focusing on the first day back at school.

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What also makes these desks unique is that they are made up of recycled yoghurt cups.

Henk van der Hyde, Danone’s sustainability manager, explained converting waste into resources addresses a social need in two ways – the immediate one is that of providing much-needed desks to help adequately space out children, and secondly it helps Danone fulfil its commitment of no waste to landfill by 2030.

Through this one initiative this year, the yoghurt manufacturer will transform 19 tons of waste into school desks.

“The equivalent of 914 of the Nutriday one kilogram tubs go into making the desk frame and 245 of the yoghurt six packs go into the top, to make this beautiful strong, durable desk,” he said.

Danone was the first yoghurt manufacturer to sign the SA Plastics Pact more than a year before the Waste Management Act was put into effect just two months ago, in November 2020. The Act puts pressure on all South African producers to implement more sustainable measures.

“We are proving that plastic is not waste. It’s got value and can be made into anything,” said van der Hyde. “This campaign is a fantastic example of innovation in the sustainable space as it not only implements recycling and upcycling practices, reducing waste, but also provides much-needed resources to children and facilities in need.

“We hope that our commitment will encourage others in the industry to make collective progress towards ensuring that all plastic packaging is fully recyclable and recycled,” added van der Hyde. The Day One campaign is a kick-start to a broader movement in which more partners contribute to the initiative.

CEO of the SA Congress for ECD Leonard Saul explained ECD operators are largely NPOs and micro-social enterprises – mostly owned and run by communities.

Many operate in a quasi-informal manner providing a service that is needs-based, especially in poor communities. These ECDs have limited resources and cash flow.

“About 30 per cent of ECD centres did not reopen after June 2020 due to their inability to comply adequately to Covid-19 regulations and unfortunately, have remained closed,” he said.

“Parents usually rely on these centres so that they can return to work and remain economically active and provide for their families. “Now, parents are panicking as to whether their children will be safe at these facilities with a key question being adequate social distancing.

“The desks are designed under the supervision of an occupational therapist for children aged four to six, and are not only a safe place to learn how to read and write but also to eat as well.

“In terms of the social distancing guidelines published by the Department of Social Development in June, these seven ECD centres can now ensure that their young learners are kept at least one metre apart.”

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