HISTORY OF RESPONSIBLE PACKAGING MANAGEMENT

The Association of Drum Reconditioners (ADR) was founded in North America in 1942 as one of the first trade associations to represent the industrial packaging business.  The Association has grown and expanded its original focus on steel drums to include plastic and fibre drums and containers as well as IBC's with the necessary change of name in 2002 to RIPA - Reusable Industrial Packaging Association.

For over six decades RIPA has dedicated itself to promoting the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible design, manufacturing, collection, reconditioning, remanufacturing and re-use of industrial packaging.

Over the years RIPA has developed the principles of Responsible Packaging Management (RPM) with supporting Key Elements, Guidelines and Codes of Operating Practice to assist members improve and achieve sustainable practices.  This is vital for industry to meet the challenges and increasing pressures from the public, new legislation and the need to conserve raw materials and reduce waste.

RIPA membership includes representation from all parts of the packaging community including manufacturers, reconditioners, distributors, suppliers and users - an essential combination to address the problems and opportunities in the value chain and life cycle in a true spirit of co-operation.  (RIPA website:  www.reusablepackaging.org)

In addition to its work in Canada, Mexico and the USA, RIPA was a founder member of the International Confederation of Container Reconditioners (ICCR). The ICCR is a worldwide group of trade associations which provides a co-ordinated effort of international regulatory matters and represents the world's reconditioning industry at international fora including :-

ISO - The International Standards Organisation.

The United Nations Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods

IMO - The International Maritime Organisation

ICAO - The International Civil Aviation Organisation

ICCR represents many of the primary trade associations of Europe, Japan, North America & Australasia. In 1992 at the 17th session of the UN Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods, a series of provisions put forward by the ICCR were incorporated into the UN "orange book" Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.  These provisions include Definitions, Performance Testing, Marking and Record Keeping Requirements as contained in the RPM Guidelines and Codes of Operating Practice. The Principles and Recommended Practices of RPM are therefore truly global.

International Packaging Trade Associations include:

- RIPA - Reusable Industrial Packaging Association

- SERRED - Syndicat Européen des Récupérateurs et Rénovateurs de Drums

- JDRA - Japan Drum Reconditioners' Association

- ACRA - Australasian Container Reconditioners' Association

- IPA - Industrial Packaging Association of the UK

- ICPP - International Confederation of Plastic Packaging Manufacturers.

The RCMASA was formed in South Africa in 2001 for industry to take a pro-active approach to becoming self-regulatory and make a positive contribution to protect the health and safety of persons, and the environment in our region

RCMASA held discussions with the international bodies and adopted the Principles of Responsible Packaging Management, together with its Key Elements and Codes of Operating Practice, to help us achieve better practices and our objectives. The RCMASA Manual of Key Elements and Codes of Practice was drawn up in January 2002 and distributed to all members and subsequent new members.

In 2002 the RCMASA was requested by the SA National Dept of Transport to work on a National Standard SANS 10406, for Reconditioning and Reprocessing of drums and IBC's to address the UN and SA requirements (SANS 10229) to regulate the industry. Purpose to ensure acceptable practices by the reprocessors so that the correct UN designation would be sold to Industry for UN designated products, and so that all reprocessed packaging would meet the UN performance Standards for safe re-use with chemicals to ensure legal compliance and improve safety on our roads.

To support this a process was started for an Assessment and Audit Protocol to measure compliance and use for registration of the reprocessors and reconditioners and issue of their mark to apply to the reprocessed drums and IBC's similar to that required by the UN and SA regulations (SANS 10229) this process was sponsored by the KZN DAEA. It was a transparent process with over 70 participants from the International bodies, Government Departments and Industry giving input. It is a comprehensive Protocol covering the requirements of SANS 10406 which includes quality, health, safety and environmental compliance as well as transport compliance.  In parallel a training framework and programme was drawn up to assist industry together with Auditor Criteria and registration requirements.

SANS 10406, the Assessment and Audit Protocol, Training and Auditor requirements and Registration of reprocessors were all launched on 6 May 2004 by Dr Wendy Watson of the Dept of Transport, Dr Cliff Johnstone of the SABS and S Green of the KZN DAEA at the Plastics Federation following the RCMASA workshop. Copies of the Assessment and Audit protocol were given or sent to ALL members.

Site visits were made to the Reprocessor members to discuss the requirements in 2004 & 5 and Mini audits were conducted by H von Blerk in 2006.  Training courses were held in the regions in 2007 and 2008. The Audit Protocol was revised in October 2007 by C Bosman to address changes in Environmental legislation and the Waste Bill. The first 2 Auditors were registered in February 2008 and conducted the first full Audits in March 2008 - Industry users should now demand a copy of the Audit report to see compliance and improvement plans to assist them with choice of service provider.

In 2006 at the International Packaging Conference in San Francisco the Keynote speaker and Vice Chairman of the UN Committee of Experts for Transport of Dangerous Goods suggested that we apply for Consultative Status with the Committee as there was no Industry representation from Africa or the developing world which needed addressing to add a new dimension and recognition of different operating conditions by the first world dominated Committee. We discussed this with Dr W Watson of the SA Dept of Transport and spoke to numerous SA Industry Associations to get their support before submitting our application to the UN Secretariat. Liz Anderson presented the application to the December 2006 session when we were welcomed to the Committee as the first Industry representation from Africa – Australia was particularly welcoming as there another representative from the Southern hemisphere!

The Association enjoys consultative status with the UN Committee of Experts for TDG and GHS Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling, Sub Committees of Experts and has / is participating in several work groups for the benefit of members and Industry in our region. Participation in the 2 Committees opens opportunities to a wealth of Expert knowledge and networking.

It was agreed at the 2008 AGM to change the name to RPMASA  Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa to bring the Association's identity into line with the International trend to address reusable Industrial Packaging and stop the confusion with shipping containers.

Responsibility and accountability for what happens to packaging starts with the manufacturer, which is why the International Associations include Manufacturers, Users, Service Providers, Reprocessors, Reconditioners and Disposal Facilities to work together to solve the ever increasing challenges to industry.

Reprocessed, reconditioned and remanufactured packaging is used for an amazing variety of products from fruit juice and pulp to petrochemical and oil products to hazardous chemicals. Reusable industrial packaging manufacturers and reconditioners play an important role in assisting companies to develop their packaging pollution prevention and waste minimisation strategies. Reuse of packaging is environmentally and economically preferable when Responsible Packaging Management is practised.

With the signing of the Waste Bill into South African law Responsible Packaging Management is a practical approach to Extended Producer Responsibility EPR and sustainable use of resources and the Assessment, Audit and Registration process a practical approach to self regulation.

RPMASA members should embrace the Audit Protocol to demonstrate their capability and compliance and Industry users should now demand a copy of the Audit report to assist them with and give confidence in their choice of service provider.

The RPMASA invites and welcomes membership from all organisations involved in the life cycle of the reusable industrial packaging so that we may work together in a spirit of partnership for the benefit of all in our region.

The Associations first International – planned to be bi-annual Conferences was held in March 2009 at the Durban ICC, 9 International Expert speakers including 5 Members of the UN Committee of Experts came to SA to share their knowledge on safe packaging, handling and transport issues for chemicals. Together with Local Experts on packaging, transport, regulations and environmental issues this was an excellent first with speakers pledging to return in 2011.  We trust that Industry and Government will partner with us to make 2011 an even better experience to raise awareness and build capacity in our Industry to improve safety and compliance.