a Standing ovation for local innovation! Plastics industry front runners Polyoak Packaging and Zerocrete were awarded top acclaim at the Cape Chamber Industry Innovation Awards held in Grand Style at Cape Town's Historic City Hall on June 10, 2025.
The sparkly event celebrated visionary businesses with innovations that reshape the economy and drive real-world impact.
The award was designed to spotlight groundbreaking ideas that promote economic growth, create jobs and enhance public services. From innovative technology to bold sustainability initiatives, the evening reminded everyone that business growth isn't just good. It is essential for a thriving society.
Zerocrete, led by Johan Coetzee, stole the spotlight with innovative low-carbon concrete. By skillfully incorporating unrecyclable plastic and fabric waste, Zerorete's eco-smart solutions not only divert large amounts of waste from landfills, but also tackle the housing crisis in South Africa. With an impressive 80% low carbon emissions, this material has already earned future carbon credits.
Locally based PolyOak Packaging surprised judges with the world's first multi-layer polypropylene (PP) bucket, which incorporates internal and external layers of virgin plastic, rims and lids to prevent safe sealing and leakage. This approach allows for the use of recycled plastics while retaining the important technical capabilities of the container. This innovation proves that recycling and quality are closely related to bringing environmental benefits without compromising performance.
These two pioneers are redefineing what is possible in the plastics and construction industry. This will guide you on the path to a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous South Africa.
Polyoak's Plastic Setter Trade Test Centre, which opened its doors at Diepiver on June 1, 2022, was also nominated in the category “higher education that best meets market needs.” It is South Africa's first trade test centre certified to evaluate machine setters working in the plastics manufacturing industry.
The Trade Test Center is located on the premises of PolyOak Packaging, a rigid plastic packaging manufacturer that developed the curriculum for plastic manufacturing machine setters, fully equipped with employee apprentices and fully equipped to intervene in a qualified role as a plastic machine setter.
Polyoak Business School, the in-house training division of Polyoak, has been working closely with Merseta to accredit polyoak programs and accrediting learners since 2008 (Merseta is a manufacturing, engineering and related services sector education and training institute established to promote skills development in terms of South Africa's skill development laws).
Eight polyoak apprentices began the theoretical elements of this qualification in 2017. At the time, unable to conduct trade tests, Polyoak set out on a journey to obtain its own on-site technical centre, which was accredited as an official trade test centre for this particular qualification.
Polyoak is currently working with the Quality Council (QCTO) to validate learning and ensure proper assessment and mitigation of qualifications.
Apprentices who have completed the theoretical and practical components can do trade tests to officially qualify as South Africa's first certified plastics machine setter. The program proudly graduated in 2021 as South Africa's first female plastics manufacturing setter.
The fact that this qualification is a currently recognized professional will encourage future generations to become highly skilled plastics manufacturing setters and make a valuable contribution to South Africa's manufacturing industry.
This is a clear evidence of the entire plastics manufacturing industry, where women can participate. Traditionally dominated by men, this specialized field has actually been successful. Overall, there is a critical shortage of skilled plastics setters in South Africa. This represents lost employment opportunities and upward social mobility. This shortage is also a hindrance to the growth and competitiveness of the local plastics industry.
The fact that this qualification, made possible by a trade test centre funded and managed by the Polyoak Business School, is a currently recognized professional, encourages future generations to become highly skilled plastic manufacturing setters and can make a valuable contribution to South Africa's manufacturing industry.
“The opening of the Occupational Qualifications Trade Test Centre for South Africa's first plastics manufacturing machine setter was a significant achievement for the polyoak and the plastic sector as a whole. Polyoak was involved in skill development from the beginning, so today there are prosperous business schools and now we can add trade testing centres.
Karl Lambrecht, managing director of Polyoak Packaging, concluded: “Investing in our people is a core value of polyoak and helps us improve the community we operate. We are extremely proud of our plastic manufacturing expertise. We hope that this qualification will help us attract people to this field where we can build a career as a qualified craftsman.”
For more information, please visit the PolyOak Packaging website: https://polyoakpackaging.co.za/
