South Africa's pome and stonefruit industries are preparing to comply with the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR), with the application date set for 18 months from now. Historically, South Africa has relied on plastic packaging to ensure that fruit arrives in optimal condition after long-distance shipments. The transition to alternative materials poses challenges, particularly in maintaining product quality and minimizing waste.
The Hortgro Packhouse Action Group (PAG) is at the forefront of innovation in the pome industry, focusing on plastics and packaging waste. PAG is actively researching alternatives, developing a plastics action plan, and collaborating with suppliers to identify viable options. The group has created a "red plastics component list" to identify materials, such as PVC and BOPP laminates, that need phasing out due to recycling challenges. Additionally, an amber list is in place to explore alternatives for Expanded Polystyrene trays.
Hortgro and GreenCape are engaging with the plastics industry to find sustainable solutions and meet Plastics Pact targets. Hortgro Science is funding research into plastic alternatives to ensure compliance with retailer requirements for export products.
The Plastics Pact is a collaborative effort involving governments, businesses, and NGOs to achieve a common vision for plastic packaging. In the UK, members, including Tesco, aim to eliminate problematic plastics and ensure all packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. South Africa, as a key UK fruit exporter, is expected to align with these consumer demands.
The SA Plastics Pact, supported by Hortgro under Fruit South Africa, seeks a circular economy for plastics in South Africa. It includes ambitious targets for the design, production, and recycling of plastic packaging.
In South Africa, various organizations have developed Design for Recycling (D4R) guidelines, but inconsistencies exist. The South African Plastics Recycling Organization (SAPRO) and partners have created a free online Design for Recycling Tool, funded by the Nedbank Green Trust and Polyco, to guide packaging design decisions in alignment with the recycling industry's capabilities.
Source: HortGro