South Africa’s agriculture industry is set to benefit from the country’s growing focus on building a circular economy, particularly in post-consumer packaging. This was highlighted during the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) Conference 2024: Waste to Wealth, held from 15 – 18 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. A major milestone in PET recycling was unveiled. PET recycling refers to the process of recycling Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a plastic commonly used in packaging, providing solutions that can enhance the country’s agricultural exports.
New PET Recycling Plant to Support Agricultural Exports
The collaboration between Petco, South Africa’s leading producer responsibility organisation (PRO), and recycling partner Extrupet introduces a groundbreaking PET bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in the Western Cape. Set to come online in 2025, the R300-million facility will add 15,000 tonnes of food-grade recycled PET (rPET) output per annum. This boost in capacity is vital for maintaining South Africa’s agricultural export competitiveness, especially in light of stringent European Union packaging regulations.
For Western Cape fruit exporters, who send large volumes of produce to global markets, PET packaging is essential. Chandru Wadhwani, joint managing director at Extrupet, noted that European Union legislation requires exported products to include certified recycled content in packaging. The new PET recycling facility will ensure South Africa’s agricultural products, particularly fruit, meet these international requirements, allowing them to maintain access to key markets.
Aligning with Global Standards and Agricultural Needs
The facility will use advanced technology, including the world-leading Erema VACUNITE® equipment, to produce certified, traceable recycled material. This will help ensure compliance with the strict packaging standards demanded by export markets, safeguarding the future of South Africa’s agricultural exports. Wadhwani emphasised that this advancement also opens up opportunities for local industries to participate in the global green economy.
Cheri Scholtz, CEO of Petco, pointed out that building a circular economy in South Africa requires a strong value chain connecting agriculture, recycling, and government regulations. The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in the country places the onus on packaging producers to manage waste responsibly. This legislation directly impacts agricultural producers who use PET packaging to transport their products both locally and internationally.
Cape Town’s Commitment to Waste Management
As a proud partner of the ISWA 2024 conference, the City of Cape Town is taking significant steps to address the growing waste crisis through its Urban Waste Management Directorate. Alderman Twigg, speaking at the conference, highlighted the importance of the three golden rules—reduce, reuse, and recycle—which align with the new PET recycling plant’s efforts to support agriculture and circular economy models in South Africa. Twigg also stressed that tackling the future of waste requires a collaborative effort between governments, industries, and communities, a sentiment echoed by the plant’s focus on leveraging technology and innovation to meet global standards for recycled packaging.
Advancing Climate Goals and the Green Economy
Scholtz explained that increased recycling capacity would strengthen the agricultural value chain by stimulating the demand for locally collected PET materials. This helps create stable markets for packaging materials, ensuring that waste pickers, small businesses, and the agricultural sector can all benefit from increased recycling efforts.
With the Western Cape being a key agricultural region, the impact of this facility extends beyond the recycling industry. It supports the province’s ambitions to lead in both sustainability and export readiness. Moreover, these recycling advancements align with South Africa’s climate change goals, as set out in the newly signed Climate Change Bill, which promotes job creation in the green economy.
By aligning recycling capabilities with global packaging standards, South Africa’s agricultural sector can continue to thrive, ensuring its produce reaches markets worldwide, while contributing to a more sustainable future.