The CEO of Polypak, Trevor Rwizi said that the banned kaylites replacements were more expensive than the kaylites themselves. Mr Rwizi said that this could lead to an increase in food prices. The replacement, which is a recyclable materials that can be used as kaylite replacement, can cost 10c per 3 which is way more expensive according to Rwizi.
The ban follows a research by a University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student which showed that kaylites are made out of a chemical called styrene that is mutagenic if consumed according to the ZBC. Meanwhile, Melody Frank, the sales and marketing manager at Planas Trading said that they had not found a solution for the kaylite ban.
Frank said that investors were not willing to invest in machinery for the packaging industry when the packaging materials were likely to be banned. She also said that the packaging industry was going to engage the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate since the UZ research gave an option of adding a plastic to stop the consumption of the mutagenic.
Kaylites were also banned for causing environmental problems such as pollution. Zimbabwe and Rwanda are the only countries that have banned the use of kaylites in Africa. The ban is likely to increase unemployment to the country as the local companies that manufacture kaylites close down.
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