Shoprite was hailed as being extremely brave by switching from using 100% virgin plastic for the bottle to 100% recycled plastic, trading the super bright white cosmetic appeal for diverting massive amounts of plastic from landfill and the environment.

Other gold award winners were a bee-friendly hive made from hard-to-recycle juice and milk cartons, toothpaste tubes and yoghurt tubs, a stylish suitcase made from recycled cellphone and battery cases, a shopping bag carrier made from recycled bottle caps and recycled plastic decking.

For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.

Would consumers be put off if bleach was packed in an off-white bottle as opposed to a shiny bright white one, which is traditionally associated with cleanliness and efficacy?

It’s such considerations – assumptions, perhaps? – which have historically compelled bleach manufacturers to pour the cheapest of surface cleaners into the purest white plastic bottles, and for that you need to use 100% virgin plastic.

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