According to reports in local media, Procter & Gamble has invested $21 million in a new manufacturing facility in Spartan, South Africa, which will allow the company to make Always sanitary napkins in the country. This sizeable investment brings P&G’s world class manufacturing capability and technology to South Africa and has increased employment at the facility there by 30%.
The investment in the Kempton Park site also includes upgrades to P&G’s Pampers production facilities. The facility is a zero waste to landfill site and recent energy saving initiatives there mean that even with the additional manufacturing demand of a new product line, energy consumption has not increased.
P&G’s presence in South Africa has created over 4000 direct and indirect jobs throughout its value chain.
Vilo Trska, P&G vice-president Southern Africa says, “The commissioning of the new manufacturing facility represents P&G’s dedication to the development of, and investment in, South Africa and Africa as a whole, responding to the growing needs of our consumers.
“We are committed to addressing the needs of women and girls in South Africa and Africa through our products, operations and social programs. Forty percent of our managers at this plant are female. Over the next five years, we will deliver puberty education to over 1.5 million girls in South Africa, and our Always Keeping Girls in School program complements this with the provision of free Always sanitary pads to another 13 000 girls every year.”