The Plastic Product Sector

Project Profiles for Plastic Sector and Plastic Recycling in Mauritius







Introduction



According to the report from the Ministry of environment, Mauritius produces some 120 tons

of plastic wastes daily amounting to a total of 43,800 tons (43,800,000 kgs) of waste every

year of which only 4%, representing some 164 tons, are recycled. In 2006, the population’s

consumption of non-biodegradable plastic products amounted to some 70 million

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, 7 million PVC bottles, and 113 million plastic

bags.



In Mauritius, around three companies are engaged in plastic reclying of PET and HDPE

bottles. Approximately, about 960,000 kgs are recycled per year per company. This amount

represents only 27% of plastic collected and 73% of plastic goes to the landfill, so there is

scope for further expansion and investment in the sector.



Products manufacture from recycled bottles are tennis ball, pillow, blankets, T-Shirt, pull,

carpet, air conditioner filter, furniture (sunbed, chairs, tables, benches, kennels, fencing,

flower box, bins etc), plastic pallets in different dimensions) and planks of different

dimensions.



Benefits of recycling waste plastics:

- Less plastic waste going to landfill

- Less oil used for plastic production

- Less energy consumed





The Plastic Product Sector in Mauritius



The plastic industry in Mauritius is principally engaged in the production of low grade plastic

containers, plastic bags and articles which do not require a high standard of technology.

Plastic pipes and hoses are also produced and one enterprise is engaged in plastic recycling.



Some units produce specialized parts from higher grade polymers and polyurethane but are

not involved in volume production.



Plastic products which require high investment and need higher technological input quality

are mostly imported from the Far East, Europe and South Africa.



In the SME sector some 50 enterprises were dealing in plasticwares ranging from plastic

pipes, household products, plastic containers and plastic bags at December 98.





Statistics (Rubber and plastic products)



Imports

The imports in 2007 for plastic material amounted to Rs576 Million included the following:



 Shower baths and washbasin

 Plastic bottles and flasks

 Plastic tableware and kitchenware

 Clothes hangers

 Plastic erasers

 Statuettes and ornaments of plastics

 Surgical gloves

 Other gloves

 Fittings for furniture

 Plastic articles for footwear

 Life Jackets and life belts of vulcanized rubber

 Baby bibs of cloth

 Teets and soothers

 Infant feeding bottles

 Sacks and bags

 Fittings of plastics for tubes, pipes and hoses

 Spools, cops, bobbins and similar supports of plastic



Market Potential



The target market is essentially the local market. The market covers all sectors of activity, in

the industrial sector, for products such as containers used in the food industry and plastic

products, and in the domestic sector for a wide range of plastic containers and other

household appliances.



The market is important and there are still opportunities for investment in production of

higher end product than those currently being manufactured, specially if an export market is

developed in the region. The main competitor in this sector is South Africa which has a

highly developed plastic industry and where there is considerable investment in research and

development.



Products



Plastic products cover a wide range of everyday use like:



 Containers like pails, flower pots, butter dishes, bowls, racks and bottles, waste paper

baskets

 Household items like buckets, mop dryers, plates, dust pails, baskets and racks, ice cube

trays, egg trays, stools, chairs and hangers

 Plastic items for industries such as food containers, bottles, jerrycanes, vegetable baskets

and racks, containers for conveying

 Plastic toys

 Pipes and hoses

 Sanitary and builders wares



Scope for entrepreneurs in the SME Sector



There is scope for a wide range of different plastic products as substitution products and for

exports to the region. Import of plastic products is still important and there is regional

market opening.



Potential investors can choose to specialize in one type of product or have a versatile set up

capable of dealing with a wider variety of products which can be produced in small and

medium volumes which can build mixed containers.

The manufacturing set-up and investment requirements



Manufacturing technology



Injection moulding



Precision products as well as home and industrial appliances like cups, gearwheels, telephone

sets, milk bottles, crates and equipment parts are produced using this process.



Injection moulding is very widespread because of its versatility and the possibility of making

precision parts.



Extrusion moulding



Process for moulding hollow articles using an extruder. This process is used for profiles,

tubes, pipes, sheets, films, cable sheathing.



Blow Moulding



This technology is mainly used for the production of bottles and other general-purpose

containers for a wide range of packaging for applications like cosmetics containers to large

drums.



Other technological processes



 Calendering and laminating for the production of sheets and plastic laminated with

paper, wood, metal

 Compression moulding for the production of sheets an blocks

 Rotational moulding for the production of tanks, drums, household goods and toys

 Casting technique for production of blocks, sheets, coatings, small parts

 Thermoforming for the production of beakers, small packaging (e.g yogurt pots),

baths, drums boat hulls



Processing Steps



Blending and mixing Plastics and components are mixed or blended in different

proportions in the manufacturing process



Pigmentation Process whereby the product is coloured by the use of a

pigment



Moulding The product is moulded using one of the technological

process



Cooling A chiller performs the cooling process. Different types of

industrial chillers can be used to equip the plastic

manufacturing machines

Equipment and tools used in the Plastic Industry



 Plastic moulding machine depending on technology and product to be manufactured:

Injection machine, blow moulding and extrusion moulding are the most common

 Moulds adapted to the machine for production

 Weighing and dosing equipment

 Compressors

 Conveying equipment

 Grinders

 Storage equipment for raw materials

 Water Pump

 Chiller



All machines are imported directly from South East Asia (Taiwan and China) and India.



Raw Materials and Consumbles



Raw materials are imported in primary forms or in intermediate/semi-finished foms.



 Thermoplastic resins

 Polypropylene (PP)

 High density polyethylene (HDPE)

 Acrylonitrite butadene styrene (ABS)

 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

 Polycarbonates

 Polyurethane

 Other Polymers



Raw materials for use in the moulding process are imported directly from foreign suppliers in

pelletised forms. Pigments are also imported.



Plastic Raw Materials Supplier



Amro Chemicals Ltd

Industrial Zone, Plaine Lauzun, Port-Louis

Tel: 212-5300



K.G. Tex

Ruisseau Créole

La Mivoie

Rivière Noire

Tel: 4837232







Note: A list of other foreign suppliers can be obtained from SEHDA Documentation Centre.









Indemnity: Whilst every effort is made to compile and update information in this factsheet to

ensure accuracy, SEHDA and its staff cannot accept any responsibility for any prejudice or

loss in business caused by this information.