A second life for boxes has
become a major business in
South Africa, which consumes
around 3% of the world’s retired
container fleet, according to
founder and managing director of
Container World, Christopher Lee.
“I have been involved as one of
“the pioneers” in the container
industry in SA for 45 years, longer
than the official 40 years since
introduction
and seen many
changes along
the way,” says
Lee.
“Actual use
of containers
was common
on routes out of
Cape Town to
Europe in the early 70s as we had
an arrangement with a Norwegian
ship owner to load containers on
top of bulk coal previously loaded
in Durban.
“We moved canned fruit from
Ceres and other source areas using
this method very successfully
but it had its own challenges as
the landside lifting capacity was
limited and still geared towards
breakbulk,” he explains.
Lee launched Container World
in 1983 from its head office
in Durban and today it has 12
branches in South Africa, two
in Namibia and one in Angola,
converting 20- and 40-ft
containers for
use on building
sites, at mines,
in rural areas
for retail
applications,
open tops for
moving animals
and certain
machinery.
“There is a demand for 10ft
containers adapted for retail
applications, but these are no
longer manufactured so we have
to cut down larger containers and
adapt them to become a smaller
offering,” he concludes.
South Africa consumes
around 3% of the world’s
retired container fleet
‘Containerised’ coffee shop.
‘Containerised’ accommodation.
