Strategic partnerships make Teqal a sustainable business

Teqal strives to be a sustainable and learning company through strategic partnerships with eDeaf, WILDTRUST, Dube Tradeport, OVS Solutions and the Plastics SA Academy For Learning & Development.

A leading manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging servicing the cosmetic, personal care and industrial markets, Teqal has always been committed to finding ways to reduce its environmental footprint.

The company successfully uses eDeaf to place its disabled employees within the business. eDeaf assists with sourcing candidates, supplying their CVs, making introductions, and supplying an interpreter for interviews. Teqal has successfully employed many deaf employees because of this well run, caring and knowledgeable company institution.

“We are proud to have deaf employees as part of our team,” says Sean Kirkham, director of Teqal. “Their talent brings diversity to our workforce, and we are committed to providing them with a supportive and inclusive workplace. eDeaf have provided the support we need to make this possible.”

Teqal’s commitment to the deaf employees goes beyond mere job placement. The business also works closely with Plastics SA Academy For Learning & Development (PFSA), which has done a stellar job accommodating its deaf employees on NQF training. PFSA’s commitment is paramount to the successful training of Teqal’s employees. The academy has gone to great lengths to accommodate Teqal’s deaf employees, and the business is most grateful for the support.

“Our goal is to create a learning culture within our company, and that means providing equal opportunities for all of our employees, regardless of their background or abilities,” says Renee Kirkham, CFO of Teqal.

Plastic waste neutral partnership

Wildtrust, through its Blue Port Project, has partnered with Teqal to become 100% plastic waste neutral. Teqal will convert plastic waste into packaging, while an equal amount of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW) will be collected from the environment and recycled.

The Blue Port Project aims to reduce plastic waste in Durban Port and restore the Durban Bay to its natural state. The partnership allows Wildtrust to have sustainable finance streams to progress with the project and conduct research. The initiative illustrates the effectiveness of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) partnerships, and the success of this pilot project could lead to further upscaling. Renee Kirkham urges recyclers, converters, retailers and consumers to channel their contributions to sustainable environmental initiatives, such as Wildtrust.

Another partnership with Dube Tradeport has enabled Teqal to grow with the support of the Industrial Development Corporation. Dube Tradeport and Teqal have a business relationship where Teqal operates within the Dube Tradeport Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Dube Tradeport SEZ provides Teqal with a conducive business environment that enabled the company to expand its operations. SEZ offers a range of services such as access to markets, world-class infrastructure and various incentives and benefits that are designed to support and promote business growth. Through the partnership, Teqal has received funding from the Industrial Development Corporation which has enabled the business to invest in sustainable manufacturing practices and increase its capacity.

Making a positive impact

Another very strategic partnership for Teqal is one with OVS Solutions, the Africa licensee of Rapid Global. OVS Solutions provides risk and compliance software, which has helped Teqal streamline its workforce risk, safety and compliance management processes. One of the great ways this software helps the business is with training its deaf employees online, helping the business to remain compliant and on top of ever-increasing regulations.

“Our partnerships with e-deaf, Wildlands Trust, Dube Tradeport, PFSA and OVS Solutions have allowed us to become a more inclusive, sustainable, and learning company,” says Renee Kirkham. “We hope that by promoting these partnerships, we can inspire other companies to do the same and make a positive impact on our society and environment.”