Petco members divert 86,000 cubic metres of packaging from landfill as South Africa’s recycling ecosystem strengthens

SOUTH AFRICA – Petco members have diverted 86,000 cubic metres of post-consumer packaging from landfill in 2025, mitigated 389,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, and achieved 99% compliance with legislated recycling targets.

The audited results show that this was 10,000 cubic metres more than in 2024, equivalent to 2,600 standard shipping containers. 

The carbon mitigation is comparable to carbon that could be sequestered by planting 17,600 hectares of spekboom. 

The organisation sponsored nearly R9 million (approximately US$480,000) worth of equipment and infrastructure to support grassroots collection businesses and trained over 7,300 participants in recycling skills development workshops.

Financial Support for Recyclers

Petco members provided a further R90 million (approximately US$4.8 million) in financial support to recyclers, allowing them to purchase post-consumer packaging worth R600 million (approximately US$32 million) from recycling collection and buy-back centres. 

Almost 70% of PET beverage bottles and more than half of the long-life milk and juice cartons on supermarket shelves are placed by Petco members.

Meeting and Surpassing Targets

Petco chief executive officer Telly Chauke confirmed that the organisation has successfully met or surpassed the legislated targets for these materials, noting that last year, Petco once again met the targets for 99% of the packaging tonnages its members placed on the market. 

She added that it is significant to have continued year-on-year growth in performance against the backdrop of a challenging year for brand owners, retailers, importers, and the recycling industry.

Liquid Board Packaging Progress

Since launching the new scheme for liquid board packaging (beverage cartons) in 2023, Petco has quadrupled the collection and recycling rates for this packaging material, to 33% and 31% respectively for 2025. 

Despite beverage consumption falling below forecasted figures over the festive season, Petco recorded a higher than normal PET bottle collection rate last year, 14% more than the previous year’s 76%, and ensured that 87% was recycled.

Industry Challenges

Petco chairman Ralph Jewson noted that despite exceptional performance in 2025, there are ongoing concerns about financial pressure facing South Africa’s recycling value chain, including high feedstock costs, rising electricity and fuel prices, expensive transport, softer demand for recycled material, and increasing competition from cheaper imports.

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