The Royal Society of South Africa and the Academy of Science of South Africa invite you a webinar on ‘The Plastic Curse – more than just litter : a study of greenhouse gas emissions in SA’ presented by Professor Kevin Harding MRSSAf, Director of the Green Engineering and Industrial Ecology Research Unit at University of the Witwatersrand, on ‘The Plastic Curse – more than just litter : a study of greenhouse gas emissions in SA’
Date: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Time: 17h00
Abstract: Growing plastic production and limited disposal options raise environmental concerns beyond pollution. Plastics contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycle, from resource extraction to disposal. This presentation looks at the impact of plastic production in South Africa and how recycling might play a crucial role. Understanding recycling and the carbon footprint of the plastics industry is essential for developing more sustainable solutions and mitigating its environmental impact.
About the Speaker: Kevin Harding is a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Cape Town with a PhD investigating life cycle aspects of industrial bioprocess systems. He spent time as a consultant at Environmental Resources Management (ERM SA) before joining the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa). As an associate professor at the University, he lectures undergraduates across various courses and spends his research time investigating water related and LCA issues in mining, bioprocess and other industrial systems. He is the director of the Green Engineering and Industrial Ecology Research Unit, quantifying the impact of industrial processes, and thereby finding engineering solutions to reduce them.
ALL WELCOME
– a video of this talk will appear on our website about a week after the event.
Website: www.royalsocietysa.org.za
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