Liquid board carton, PET plastic recycling on the rise

IN 2024, Petco spent R70 million on financial support for the value chain, which enabled its contracted recycling partners to purchase approximately R470m in post-consumer packaging materials from small businesses.

- STAFF REPORTER

South Africa’s leading producer responsibility organisation, Petco, has delivered robust annual results for the collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging, meeting the legislated targets for 99% of the tonnage of identified products placed on the market by its members in 2024. The organisation’s 29 members, which include major brands such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Tiger Brands, and Tetra Pak, represent most of the PET plastic beverage bottles and liquid board packaging (LBP) placed onto the South African market.

According to the newly released audited data, Petco’s efforts saved 76 000 cubic metres of South Africa’s scarce landfill space — the recyclable packaging thus diverted would fill 2 324 standard, 6m shipping containers.

Chief executive Telly Chauke said Petco was pleased to have met the targets set by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for the identified products registered with the organisation.