Faith-based communities have an important role to play in nurturing environmental responsibility and encouraging practical action within their congregations and neighbourhoods for a cleaner, more sustainable South Africa.

That’s why Petco’s team recently joined a community awareness event organised by the South African Council of Churches under the theme of ‘Faith in Action: Separate. Recycle. Care.’

The event, hosted at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa in Kraaifontein, marked the launch of a longer-term effort to strengthen recycling participation by providing education, recycling infrastructure, and connections to collectors and buy-back centres. By making recycling more accessible and connecting communities to the right resources, we can help turn awareness into lasting participation.

At the event, Petco’s regional recycling officers exhibited and engaged with the community, demonstrating the recycling journey of Liquid Board Packaging (LBP) and PET bottles from the moment materials are collected through the different stages of the recycling process.  As part of the initiative, Petco also provided personal protective equipment (PPE) for nine recycling champions, who will be responsible for sorting the separated recyclables. 

The day concluded with participating organisations – including Petco, our fellow producer responsibility organisations, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – coming together to sign a pledge to protect the environment, reaffirming our shared commitment to practical, collective action.