MPOWER PLASTICS ACHIEVES MILESTONE
MPower Plastics (Pty) Ltd made history when it walked away with the 1st prize of R100 000 under the “Best Job Creation” category at the Western Cape Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA) at a Gala event held at the Cape Sun Hotel on 19 November 2015. This achievement followed after Casidra’s Business Advisor, Donovan Stevens, entered this innovative company into the PERA competition. “The entry process was definitely not a walk in the park, but it was a great pleasure to hear and see MPower Plastics announced as overall winner of the first prize”, said Stevens.
The PERA 2015 is the third edition of an annual competition that recognises the achievements and potential of some of the Province’s most exciting entrepreneurs. By acknowledging and showcasing successful entrepreneurs, this Awards programme helps build a culture of entrepreneurship in the Western Cape – and in turn, supports the creation of jobs and opportunities by small and medium businesses.
MPower Plastics is one of the beneficiaries of the Provincial Growth Fund, which is administered by Casidra on behalf of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The company focuses on the collection and recycling of plastic waste, which is then converted into pellets for the manufacturing of refuse bags and other plastic products, as well as cardboard and paper. This BEE company started its operations in 2007 in Blackheath by Peter Petersen who identified this niche market. However, due to high expenses, the business owner decided to move the business to another area where rental and other expenses would be cheaper.
MPower Plastics’ vision over the next five years is to become a recycling and manufacturing plant of choice. They focus on a network of recycling plants across the Western Cape Province with independent entrepreneurs to collect and supply raw materials to the recycling plants. This will not only create jobs, but also entrepreneurs thereby boosting the local economy.
MPower Plastics is a steadily growing business. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) valued at R4.2 million for the first 12 months to supply a multi-million Rand Johannesburg based waste company with recycled refuse bags totalling 750 000 units per month. Their annual turnover is expected to be in excess of R250 000 000, which will result in more jobs being created and further growth not only for the business, but for the Western Cape local economy with a positive contribution to the GDP. The company further managed to secure a three-year contract with a Namibian mining company to the value of R35.2 million.
According to the founder of MPower Plastics, he also considered job creation as a paramount factor and hence identified Van Rhynsdorp as the perfect location, as 80% of the local community was unemployed. The business currently employs individuals from this disadvantaged community, thereby ensuring that every household has an income to sustain their families. When the business started, it employed 14 full-time and 40 part-time employees, but currently employs 89 full-time and 55 part-time employees. The business will continue to receive mentoring and business support from its Business Advisor.