OPINION | Here's how you can check if your plastic products are recycled and recyclable

Consumers should take account of the purchasing decisions they make and the way they handle materials after use. The SA Plastics Recycling Organisation has developed several tools to assist consumers in making the best purchasing and waste separation choices, writes Oliver Bonstein.

Although plastics in packaging have received a lot of criticism, they can often be the most suitable and even the most sustainable choice for a given application. Plastic is lightweight, versatile, cost-effective and often has a lower carbon footprint than other materials.

Glass minerals and metals need to be mined and melted at very high temperatures, and the production of paper destroys forests and terrestrial habitats. The main negative implication of plastics is that they often pollute the environment long after they have been used.