Major SA retail group introduces fully RECYCLABLE potato bags
These eco-friendly potato bags are available at over 1 400 Shoprite, Checkers, and Usave stores across the country, marking a significant step toward reducing packaging waste.
Traditional potato bags have long posed a recycling challenge. Although they resemble paper, they contain a moisture-resistant inner lining that couldn't be processed by South Africa's recycling facilities.
As a result, an estimated 18 600 tonnes of potato bags ended up in landfills in 2023 alone.
Worse yet, according to studies by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the cost to build a recycling plant specifically for this type of material was estimated at R30 million.
The turning point came from an in-house leadership development programme run by the Shoprite Group in collaboration with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Through and Action Learning Project, five employees took on the challenge of finding a sustainable alternative.
'What appeared to be a straightforward task quickly revealed deep supply chain complexity,' the Shoprite Group said.
'Potato bags require an inner wet-strength layer to absorb any moisture – a specification set by industry body, Potato SA – which made them incompatible with standard recycling processes.'
Over six months, the team mapped the entire production and recycling chain, engaging with stakeholders across the board – including packaging manufacturers, recyclers, and even waste pickers.
After evaluating numerous alternatives, including international options and even potential reuse in construction, the team found none were viable for the local market.
The breakthrough came when Billerud, a Swedish paper supplier and one of the country's top three providers of potato bag material, learned of the project.
The company developed a new semi-wet-strength paper that is fully recyclable using South Africa's existing infrastructure. Although the first attempt failed, a revised version met all technical and recyclability requirements.
This new recyclable potato bag has also passed shelf-life tests.
As a result of this innovation, the Shoprite Group's recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging on the whole will increase from 88.9% to 90%.
'Beyond environmental benefits, the change also creates economic opportunity,' the Group added.
'If adopted industry-wide, the new bag could unlock more than R22 million in potential income for South Africa's informal waste pickers.'
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