Every brand in South Africa is under pressure to make their packaging more sustainable. Between Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, retailer requirements, and consumer expectations, the question is no longer if you should improve sustainability — but how.
The challenge is that “eco-friendly” can mean very different things depending on who you ask. Here’s a clear framework to help South African businesses make better decisions when specifying printed flexible packaging.
Understand What “Sustainable” Actually Means in Practice
Common claims you’ll hear:
- “Recyclable”
- “Made from recycled content”
- “Compostable”
- “Bio-based”
- “Reduced plastic”
These are not all equal. In South Africa, the most relevant metric for most flexible packaging right now is recyclability within existing collection and sorting systems.
Mono-material PE and PP structures that can go into the current recycling streams are generally more practical than compostable materials (which have very limited infrastructure) or bio-based materials that still behave like conventional plastic at end of life.
Prioritise Mono-Material Structures
The single biggest step most brands can take is moving toward mono-material laminates and pouches.
Benefits include:
- Much higher likelihood of actual recycling
- Better alignment with upcoming EPR requirements
- Often lower material usage through downgauging
Ask your supplier: “Can this structure be recycled in South Africa today, or does it require new infrastructure?”
Balance Performance with Sustainability
It is easy to specify a fully recyclable structure that fails to protect the product. This leads to increased food waste — which is often a bigger environmental problem than the packaging itself.
Good sustainable packaging maintains (or improves) shelf life while being more recyclable. This usually requires working with a technically capable supplier who understands both material science and real-world distribution conditions in South Africa.
Consider the Full Lifecycle — Not Just the Material
When comparing options, look at:
- Material reduction (can you use less plastic overall?)
- Production efficiency and waste
- Transport emissions (local manufacturing usually wins)
- Product protection and resulting food waste
- End-of-life reality in South Africa (not just theoretical recyclability)
A slightly heavier but highly recyclable local structure can easily be more sustainable overall than a lighter imported multi-layer structure that ends up in landfill.
Work with Suppliers Who Can Actually Deliver
Many suppliers talk about sustainability. Fewer can actually produce high-quality, food-safe, recyclable structures at commercial volumes with reasonable lead times and pricing.
When evaluating partners, ask to see:
- Current mono-material structures they are running successfully
- Real recycling test results (not just claims)
- Production capability for the structures they recommend
Start with Your Highest-Volume SKUs
You don’t need to change everything at once. Identify your top 3–5 volume products and focus sustainability efforts there first. The impact will be far greater than spreading effort across dozens of low-volume items.
Need help navigating sustainable flexible packaging options?
Our team works with brands every week on moving to more recyclable structures without compromising product protection or production efficiency. We can review your current portfolio and recommend practical next steps.
Request a sustainable packaging review →
Related reading: