The Shoprite Group has rolled out South Africa’s first fully recyclable 7kg potato bags, tackling a persistent packaging dilemma in the country’s retail industry.
The initiative represents a crucial advancement in minimising landfill waste produced by conventional potato pockets, which cannot be recycled through current domestic facilities.
Potato pockets, utilised by millions each year, comprise two layers that complicate recycling efforts.
The outer layer and an inner wet-strength layer, designed to withstand moisture, contribute to an estimated 18,600 tonnes of waste in South Africa annually, the company said.
A team of five staff members from various departments in the company took on this challenge as part of a leadership development programme in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
The team’s objective was to develop potato pockets that are recyclable, reusable, or compostable.
The project uncovered complexities within the supply chain, particularly due to the necessity for a moisture-absorbing inner layer.
This requirement, stipulated by Potato SA, rendered conventional recycling processes ineffective for these bags.
The team dedicated six months to mapping the value chain and engaging with various stakeholders across the industry.
Its investigation included examining international alternatives and evaluating the feasibility of consumer return schemes or reuse in construction.
However, none of these options proved viable for the local market.
A breakthrough occurred when Billerud, a prominent supplier of potato pocket material, became aware of the issue.
Its research and development team in Sweden began working on a new semi-wet-strength formulation that would be recyclable in South Africa.
After an initial formulation did not succeed, a second attempt successfully passed local recyclability assessments, meeting all technical specifications without incurring additional costs.
This development allowed for smooth integration without disrupting existing operations.
The new recyclable potato bags will be introduced in over 1,400 Shoprite, Checkers, and Usave supermarkets starting this month.
This change will elevate the proportion of the group’s packaging that is recyclable, reusable, or compostable from 88.9% to 90%.
In addition to its environmental advantages, the initiative offers economic prospects.
