Recycling in Africa | 87South Africa: strong growth in recyclabilityAfrica correspondent Gill Loubser reports on further recycling advances in Africa in a follow-up piece to an Issue 3 article that described the continent’s ineffcient waste management systems and resulting economic, social and environmental problems – but also showing evidence of positive initiatives from individual governments and private sector playersince 2010, South Africa’s upmarket retail chain, Woolworths, has been a trailblazer in the introduction of recyclate into packaging. With a reputation similar in stature to the SUK’s Marks & Spencer (and affectionately referred to simply as ‘Woolies’), this premier retailer now sells more than 2,000 of its food and household products in packaging containing between 30 and 70 percent recycled content, and some made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled HDPE. “This investment represents a huge boost for recycling in South Africa. It reduces packaging Woolworths rolled out recyclable polypropylene bags for its waste to landfll, improves the rotisserie chickens. As a result, some 1.5-million bags per annum – currently destined for landfll – can now be recycled locallycircularity of critical resources, and creates much-needed jobs. Amazon eyes African marketAfrica is a compelling vision for an operation such as Amazon.This is circularity at its best”With the world’s youngest population and enviable growth prospects, Africa’s emerging consumers are likely to take up a lot Now, a dozen years since beginning this journey, the recent of Amazon’s attention once it’s offcially launched in South Africa opening of PET washing and decontamination facilities at in early 2023. Zibo Containers’ plant in Cape Town means an additional There’s also no doubt that Amazon has kept a careful eye on 1,000 packaging items from this one retailer alone can now South Africa for some time, but has waited until conditions are be recycled locally.right to make it offcial.Explains Latiefa Behardien, chief technology and sustainability Much initial attention to this yet-unconfrmed move has offcer for Woolworths Foods: ‘This investment represents a huge been on the competition Amazon will bring to existing African boost for recycling in South Africa. It reduces packaging waste to e-commerce retailers, such as Takealot. Largely ignored, however, landfll, improves the circularity of critical resources, and creates are the potential consequences of Amazon arriving on African much-needed jobs. But it’s particularly exciting for us as it means shores with a full suite of Amazon-branded offerings, ready to an additional 1,000 of our semi-rigid PET thermoformed food packs take on all who assume they’ve got things covered in their part can now be recycled, and reused in the production of similar PET of the continent.thermoformed packaging – this is circularity at its best.’ This launch will change the playing feld for everyone. South As part of Woolworths’ vision for ‘zero packaging waste to African clothing retailers, grocery brands, pharmacies, booksellers, landfll,’ packs are designed for circularity. media companies, and consumer brands –should take this debut One example Behardien cites is a recent switch to ‘easy-wash-seriously and begin thinking about how to compete once off’ adhesive, such as Avery Dennison’s CleanFlake technology that Amazon arrives.ensures label adhesive washes off entirely in the recycling process, Boasting one of the world’s strongest brands, a talent pool leaving no residue to compromise the recyclate. of innovators who will stop at nothing to get what they want, ‘This results in the entire pack – not just parts of it – being an enshrined philosophy of playing the long game, and having recycled,’ Behardien adds.no legacy systems to weigh them down as they unlock this While acknowledging that recycling alone cannot solve the new market, Amazon’s entry into the South African consumer world’s pollution problems, this has signifcant potential to impact marketplace marks a signifcant change on the horizon.cleaning up waste systems, creating jobs and reducing the use of We’ve already witnessed the implosion of several well-known virgin plastics. names in the last few years thanks to competition from well-‘Every step along the way helps to bring about a cleaner country capitalized global brands. Without careful strategic planning as to for all,’ Behardien says.how to navigate changes ahead, this list will likely include a few more popular household names.Reducing pack sizes for Africa’s retailersSo Africa needs to watch out: it’s about to get a marketing The informal retail sector represents almost 40 percent of retail lesson from the world champions.sales in sub-Saharan Africa. This vibrant market is innovative in Oct - Dec 2022