Silafrica joins Ellen MacArthur’s global plastic commitment

AFRICA – Silafrica, a leading provider of plastic and packaging solutions for corporations, consumer packaged goods (CPGs), and end consumers, has officially joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment to a circular economy.

The move positions Silafrica as the first packaging manufacturer in Africa to align with this prestigious initiative aimed at eliminating plastic waste and accelerating circular economy practices worldwide.

“Everyone in our organization is proud to be working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and to share in their commitment to eliminate plastic waste and create a sustainable future for our planet,” said Akshay Shah, Group Executive Director at Silafrica.

As part of its commitment, Silafrica will audit its packaging portfolio to identify problematic or unnecessary plastics for elimination and publicly disclose its findings.

The company currently recycles over 1,600 tonnes of industrial packaging—such as crates—annually, with plans to scale this to 5,000 tonnes by incorporating more reusable products like pallets and crates, which have added social value for low-income communities.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment is built around three core goals that aim to transform the way plastic is produced, used, and reused globally.

The first goal is to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging and promote the adoption of reusable packaging models.

This involves identifying materials and formats that are not essential or are difficult to manage sustainably, and replacing them with alternatives that minimize environmental impact.

By eliminating single-use and non-recyclable plastics, the commitment encourages businesses to rethink packaging design from the outset.

The second objective is to innovate to ensure that all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

This calls for a redesign of packaging systems and materials so they can be integrated into a circular economy.

Innovation in material science, packaging formats, and product delivery systems is key to achieving this goal, enabling more sustainable consumer and industrial packaging solutions.

The third and final goal is to circulate the plastics already in use by dramatically increasing the rate at which they are reused or recycled and then reintegrated into new packaging or products.

This approach keeps plastic in the economy and out of the environment, supporting both resource efficiency and long-term sustainability.

Silafrica has committed to aligning with these targets, aiming for 100% of its plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

Additionally, it plans for at least 40% of its packaging to be made from recycled plastic—up from its current 10% post-consumer recycled content.

For decades, Silafrica has served major brands across East Africa in food, beverage, personal and home care, and chemical sectors.

Its product portfolio includes crates, PET preforms and closures, thin-wall IML containers for spreads and yogurt, paint and oil containers, and stretch wrap for B2B logistics.

“If stakeholders and supply partners across the industry continue to make commitments like these, we can collectively realize the circular economy envisioned by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and its global signatories,” Shah concluded.

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