Shoppers buying their potatoes in 7 kg bags at over 1,400 Shoprite, Checkers, and Usave supermarket stores can know they're part of history: these potatoes are now packed into pockets which are fully recyclable at existing facilities, representing a major step forward for waste management in South Africa.
Until now potato pockets had presented a complex packaging problem: they might look like paper but in fact consists of two layers, an outer one and an inner wet-strength, moisture-resistant lining which has hitherto not been recyclable in South Africa.
Research by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research had previously concluded that a single recycling facility for these moisture-resistant linings would cost R30 million (1.48 million euros) to construct. Therefore, for years potato bags have been going straight into landfill. In 2023 alone an estimated 18,600 tonnes were discarded across South Africa.
During an inhouse leadership development programme in partnership with the University of Pretoria's business school, five Shoprite Group employees set themselves the task to change the potato packaging playbook.
"What appeared to be a straightforward task quickly revealed deep supply chain complexity. Potato bags require an inner wet-strength layer to absorb any moisture – a specification set by industry body Potatoes South Africa, which made them incompatible with standard recycling processes," the Group said.
"Over six months, the team mapped the entire value chain, engaging with various paper mills, packaging manufacturers, recyclers, retailers, consumers, and waste pickers. They investigated international alternatives, evaluated repurposing claims, and probed whether consumer return schemes or even reuse in the construction industry could be viable. None of these were feasible for the local market."
The breakthrough came when Swedish paper supplier Billerud, one of three major suppliers of potato pocket material for the local market, learnt of the Group's desire to offer recyclable potato bags, and set out to develop a recyclable semi-wet-strength formulation.
"Although Billerud's first formulation failed, a second attempt passed local recyclability tests and met all technical requirements," the Group says. Moreover, the bags can be recycled by existing recycling facilities at no additional cost.
The new recyclable bag also passed shelf-life testing and have been rolled out across 1 400 stores from May 2025.
For more information, visit Shopriteholdings.co.za