Tetra Pak invests ZAR 19m in Johannesburg carton recycling plant
Tetra Pak has invested ZAR 19 million in an automated carton-recycling machine at its Johannesburg facility, separating aluminium and polyethylene from cartons to produce pellets for roof tiles, pipes and furniture. The company aims to raise South Africa's carton recycling rate from 33% to 40% within two years. The plant is operated by manufacturing partner Unique Timber Plastics in Heriotdale and will create 24 direct jobs, with recycler Mpact and producer-responsibility organisation Petco exploring applications for the recycled pellets.
Why this mattersLocal mechanical recycling capacity for cartons cuts landfill volumes and virgin material use, and could template circular supply chains for other multinationals in Africa.
- Tetra Pak invested ZAR 19 million in an automated carton-recycling machine at its Johannesburg facility
- The machine separates aluminium and polyethylene from paperboard cartons to produce pellets for roof tiles, pipes and furniture
- Tetra Pak aims to lift South Africa's carton recycling rate from 33% to 40% within two years
- The plant is operated by manufacturing partner Unique Timber Plastics in Heriotdale and will create 24 direct jobs
- Local recycler Mpact and industry body PRO Petco are exploring applications for the recycled pellets
- Petco's members include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Tiger Brands and Tetra Pak itself
- Cartons processed are typically 70 percent paperboard, 25 percent polyethylene and 5 percent aluminium composite
- South African carton recycling rose from 8 percent in 2023 to 33 percent today, ahead of the 40 percent target