GreenCape, in partnership with the Anglo American Foundation (AAF), has published a report on the Flexible Packaging Solutions Showcase; a first-of-its-kind event that was hosted by GreenCape, supported by the AAF, and attended by retailers, brand-owners, converters and recyclers that are all members of the South African Plastics Pact.
The South African Plastics Pact is a collaborative group of organisations working towards a South Africa where plastic is valued and retained within a circular economy, with benefits of job creation, economic growth, and the prevention of plastic pollution in the environment. The Pact is administered by GreenCape, as the secretariat, and member companies are working towards four ambitious targets for the end of 2025. One of these targets aims at ensuring that 100% of plastic packaging entering the market is reusable, recyclable or compostable.
One major challenge, identified by Pact members and faced by brand owners and retailers, is the recyclability of flexible packaging, particularly flexible polypropylene (PP) and multilayer/multi-polymer materials.
Flexible packaging is critically important in our daily lives, and performs a significant number of varied functions., yet their recycling rates in South Africa remain low due to technical and economic barriers. The Showcase event, held in Johannesburg in September 2024, gathered key stakeholders to explore viable alternatives and spark collaboration. Six entrants presented recyclable polyethylene alternatives, offering solutions for vacuum bags, pouches, and more—materials already collected for recycling in South Africa.
Despite challenges such as insufficient local demand and the costs of upgrading production lines, the event revealed that there are substantial opportunities for local converters to introduce recyclable packaging solutions. As the country ramps up Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) efforts, the potential for higher recycling rates and compliance with regulatory standards grows.
The South African Plastics Pact continues to foster collaboration among stakeholders to drive progress, ensuring South Africa moves closer to achieving its sustainability goals.
Interested in learning more? Read the full report to discover insights and opportunities for advancing circular economy in South Africa’s plastic packaging sector.