Sustainable Plastics in South Africa 2025
A group of 7 UK and 32 South African businesses from a variety of sectors met with key stakeholders from both private and public sector organisations in South Africa in March 2025 to exchange knowledge and showcase developments in sustainable plastic packaging. The aim of this GEM was to focus on how UK innovators can collaborate with South African partners to improve mechanisms to collect, recycle and valorise plastic packaging, excluding incineration whilst determining how Innovate UK can best support UK businesses more effectively and efficiently when considering sustainable plastics innovation partnerships with South Africa.
Project
Sustainable Plastics in South Africa
Location
South Africa
Theme
Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Abstract from report
The mission found strong alignment between South Africa’s strategic priorities and UK innovation capabilities. There is growing appetite in both countries to collaborate on solutions that address the environmental and socio-economic impacts of plastic waste, particularly through innovation in packaging design, recycling infrastructure, data systems, and reuse models.
South Africa’s plastics sector faces persistent barriers including infrastructure gaps, enforcement limitations in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the marginalisation of informal reclaimers despite their vital contribution to plastics recovery. However, it also benefits from an active innovation ecosystem, policy momentum, and strong networks such as the South African Plastics Pact.
About Global Expert Missions
The Global Expert Missions (GEM) programme is funded by Innovate UK and designed to build international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions, and people from every corner of the globe. With global challenges requiring international perspectives, the programme aims to support the UK government’s ambition to be the international partner of choice and a global hub for innovation by 2035.