Information about our schemes
Packaging and the schemes Petco administers
We’re a PRO on a mission
Petco is a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that administers Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes on behalf of its members for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) rigid containers, specifically bottles and jars, and their associated polyolefin labels and closures, as well as liquid board packaging (LBP) in order to lead producer responsibility in South Africa and facilitate the transition to a circular economy.
What is PET?
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) forms the basis of synthetic fibres like polyester and is also used for rigid plastic packaging such as beverage bottles for carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, milk, juice, sports and energy drinks; jars, punnets, tubs and trays for food items; bottles for household, personal care and pharmaceutical products; and sheet and film for general packaging.
PET is identified by its polymer code ‘1’, which is usually stamped on the underside of the packaging.
Recycled PET (rPET) is used to make many new PET products and is one of the few polymers that can be recycled back into the same form again and again, thus closing the loop and contributing to a circular economy.
PET bottles typically have closures (caps) and labels made from other types of plastic (polyolefins). Petco takes responsibility for the whole bottle (including all components) on behalf of its members. Find out more about the component parts below.
What is rPET used for?
Recycled PET (rPET) is used to make preforms that become brand-new PET plastic packaging and, most importantly, new PET bottles. rPET is also used to make the fibre used for clothing, car mats, geotextiles, hair pieces and fibrefill for jackets and duvets. rPET is also used to make strapping for the packaging industry and broom bristles.
How is PET recycled?
The PET recycling process is robust and efficient. It typically comprises eight stages:
- Collection
PET plastic bottles and jars are gathered from households, public spaces, drop-off sites or landfills. - Transportation
The bottles are separated by colour and sold to buy-back centres, where they are baled, or they go directly to recyclers, otherwise known as reprocessors. - De-baling
Collected PET bales are unbundled from their bales. - Sorting
Non-PET material is removed prior to flaking. - Flaking
The bottles, as well as their labels and caps, are then shredded into flakes. - Washing
The PET flakes now undergo a thorough cleaning to remove impurities and contaminants. During this process, other plastics – the caps and labels – separate from the PET plastic, to be reprocessed into other products. - Drying
The washed PET flakes are dried to eliminate moisture content. - Extrusion and pelletisation
The dried flakes are melted and formed into small pellets. - Manufacturing: Bottle-to-Bottle
Recycled PET pellets are used to make PET packaging again. - Manufacturing: Bottle-to-Fibre
During processing to make textiles, the melted PET is made into threads to make polyester fibre, which becomes items like clothing and car mats.
What is LBP?
LBP, or liquid board packaging, refers to liquid board cartons used to package products such as fruit juice, custard, and milk.
According to Tetra Pak®, each liquid board carton comprises more than 70% paperboard from sustainably managed forests, making it a renewable form of packaging. The remaining 25% is made up of 20% polyethylene (plastic) and 5% aluminium (polyAl), which serve to protect the carton’s contents from light, oxygen, and moisture.
LBP is lightweight and cost-effective to transport, making it a safe and convenient packaging option. Cartons have an excellent product-to-package ratio, ensuring a significant volume of product in relation to packaging material, resulting in less waste and added convenience, especially for home storage.
What are the recycled layers of LBP used to make?
Paper manufacturers use the long paper fibre derived from liquid board cartons to manufacture new paper and carton products, while the polyAl layers are recycled into products such as pallets, crates, clothes hangers, outdoor furniture, school desks, car parts and roof tiles.
How is LBP recycled?
- Collection
The liquid board recycling process starts with collection, sorting and baling. - Transportation
The baled LBP is transported to recyclers. - Pulping
Bales of liquid board cartons are fed into a hydro-pulper, a large blender that separates the paper fibre from the polyAl, using water. - Separation
The lids are separated from the polyAl. - Screening
The pulp is then screened to remove any unwanted materials, such as plastic or metal, and cleaned to remove any residual contaminants. - Paper
The paper fibres are cleaned, pressed and dried. They are then formed into paper rolls, to be made into paper towels or cardboard packaging. - PolyAl
The polyAl components are extracted together and formed into granules. The granules can then be turned into various products such as pallets or roof tiles.
Join Petco
We take Extended Producer Responsibility on behalf of our members on a collective basis, helping them to meet legislated and corporate targets. We go beyond policy, creating real value and leading the way to a circular economy.