Polyco is focused on making waste a valuable resource that works for our economy. We aim to grow the collection and recycling of all plastic packaging in South Africa and to promote the responsible use and reuse of this plastic packaging. Our mission is to reduce the amount of plastic packaging going to landfill and to end plastic waste in the environment. Polyco does this by collaborating with multiple stakeholders, by investing in recycling innovation and infrastructure in South Africa, and by educating both the industry and the consumer about recycling. Polyco was established as a non-profit organisation in 2011 by a group of South Africa’s responsible polyolefin plastic-packaging converters to deal with polymer identification codes 2, 4, 5 and 7. We have recently increased our scope of our activities to now include the representation of all plastic packaging under mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. We are funded by our members, who are committed to realising a clean South Africa. Our members pay an EPR fee to Polyco and in turn we ensure that their extended producer responsibilities are performed by Polyco. Our recent merger with Polystyrene Packaging Council and Vinyl Loop has strengthened Polyco’s position and we are now a one-stop-shop for all plastic packaging types, increasing our support to producers, retailers and brand owners under EPR.
