What Plastics does

Plastics SA is a non-profit industry association headquartered in South Africa that represents all sectors of the South African plastics industry, including polymer producers and importers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators, and recyclers. Founded in 1994 (originally as the Plastics Federation of South Africa), it is governed by member companies and serves as the unified industry voice on policy, sustainability, training, and circular-economy initiatives. It does not sell commercial products; instead, it funds operations through member contributions, partnerships with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PETCO, Polyco, MetPac-SA, eWASA, The Glass Recycling Company, Fibre Circle), and grants from international development agencies such as GIZ (commissioned by Germany's BMZ and co-funded by the EU) and JICA.

The organization's portfolio is structured around programs rather than products. The Academy for Learning & Development delivers industry training, including a KAIZEN Train-the-Trainer initiative co-developed with JICA and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). Sustainability programs include Operation Clean Sweep (industry stewardship to prevent plastic resin loss), the ISOW (Innovative Solutions for Waste) project in Mpumalanga, Fishing Line Bin installations (386+ bins along the coastline), and River Catchment Projects. The Gcwalisa reuse-refill initiative in Alexandra, Gauteng, operates as a Circular City Labs pilot in partnership with GIZ, and 2025 saw the launch of the PLASTICS MATTER podcast and the Circular City Labs Textbook. Reach extends across provinces including Mpumalanga, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Northwest.

Technically, Plastics SA runs on a standard WordPress website (plasticsinfo.co.za) with no public or partner-facing API, no proprietary software, and no documented AI/ML or data platform. Marketing channels are predominantly organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram) plus DSTV advertising, content marketing, and on-the-ground community events (Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week, National Information Sharing Breakfasts, Captain Fanplastic). Leadership comprises Executive Director Anton Hanekom, Sustainability Director Douw Steyn, and Head of Academy Kirtida Bhana.

Name

Plastics

Legal name

Plastics SA

Website

https://plasticsinfo.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plastics SA is a non-profit South African industry association, founded in 1994, representing the full plastics value chain — from polymer producers and converters to recyclers — through advocacy, training, sustainability programs, and circular-economy initiatives funded by members, PROs, and international development grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association / Trade Body

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Plastics Sorting & Reprocessing (PET, HDPE, Film) (BPALADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Industry association
• Plastics recycling
• Sustainability programs
• Industry training
• Waste management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Plastics SA is a non-profit industry association that represents all sectors of the South African plastics industry, including polymer producers, importers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators, and recyclers. Its core offerings include industry representation, sustainability and recycling initiatives (ISOW, Operation Clean Sweep, Fishing Line Bin Project, River Catchment Projects), workforce training through the Academy for Learning & Development, and circular economy programs such as the Gcwalisa reuse-refill initiative.

Product overview

Plastics SA is the umbrella body representing all sectors of the South African plastics industry, including polymer producers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators, and recyclers. Rather than offering a traditional product portfolio, the organization provides a suite of industry services and sustainability initiatives including: the Academy for Learning & Development for training programs; the ISOW (Innovative Solutions for Waste) project for community-driven waste management; Extended Producer Responsibility programs for circular economy; annual Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week events; Operation Clean Sweep industry stewardship; Fishing Line Bin environmental protection; River Catchment Projects; Gcwalisa reuse-refill initiative in partnership with Circular City Labs/GIZ; the Circular City Labs educational textbook; and the PLASTICS MATTER podcast. These offerings work together to advance sustainability, training, and environmental protection across the South African plastics value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISOW (Innovative Solutions for Waste): A transformative, community-driven initiative designed to advance waste recycling systems and foster sustainable livelihoods in South Africa, particularly in the Bushbuckridge Municipality.
• Operation Clean Sweep South Africa
• Fishing Line Bin Initiative
• Academy for Learning and Development
• Clean-up and Recycle SA Week
• Circular City Labs

Products and services

• Academy for Learning & Development Plastics SA's training division offering specialized training programs for schools, municipalities, businesses, and industry workers, including KAIZEN train-the-trainer programs in collaboration with JICA and DTIC.
• ISOW (Innovative Solutions for Waste) A transformative community-driven waste management project led by Plastics SA in partnership with GIZ, focusing on improving waste recycling systems, supporting the informal waste sector, and creating employment opportunities in the Bushbuckridge Municipality, Mpumalanga.
• Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) An industry-led stewardship program to prevent plastic resin pellet, flake, and powder loss in operations, aiming for zero plastic resin loss in factories, trucks, and railcars.
• Fishing Line Bin Project A nationwide network of monofilament recycling bins installed at fishing locations to prevent discarded fishing line from harming marine life, with over 386 bins deployed along South Africa's coastline.
• Gcwalisa Reuse-Refill Initiative A reuse-refill system pilot operating out of four outlets in Alexandra, where customers fill reusable packaging with products paying a deposit refunded upon container return, employing women as Reuse Ambassadors.

Quantifiable outcome

• South Africa recycles 15.2% more plastic than Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• PETCO (PET Recycling Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Producer Responsibility Organisation for PET plastic recycling. PETCO participates in ISOW Technical Workgroup, provides funding and support for waste collection infrastructure, and collaborates on industry recycling initiatives.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ implements the ISOW (Innovative Solutions for Waste) project commissioned by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the European Union through Team Europe Initiatives. Plastics SA serves as local implementing partner for GIZ's Circular City Labs project including the Gcwalisa reuse-refill initiative.
• PolycocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Responsibility Organisation representing polyolefin plastics. Polyco is a key partner in ISOW project, providing technical expertise and funding for the Waste Beneficiation Centre in Bushbuckridge.
• MetPac-SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Responsibility Organisation for metal packaging. Participates in ISOW Technical Workgroup and provides support for collection systems and infrastructure development.
• eWASA (EPR Waste Association of South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Responsibility Organisation for the waste sector. eWASA collaborates on Extended Producer Responsibility initiatives and supports ISOW project implementation.
• The Glass Recycling CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Responsibility Organisation for glass recycling. Contributes to industry-wide sustainability initiatives and Extended Producer Responsibility programs.
• Fibre CirclesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Responsibility Organisation for fibre packaging. Supports sustainability initiatives and recycling programs under the Extended Producer Responsibility framework.
• Dow Chemical CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical and plastics manufacturer that has agreed to supply essential tools such as scales, baling machines, and trailers to the ISOW Waste Beneficiation Centre. Key industry partner for ISOW project.
• Bushbuckridge MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipality in Mpumalanga where ISOW project is being implemented. Partnership involves waste management infrastructure development and community-based waste collection systems.
• Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere RegionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization collaborating on ISOW stakeholder engagement and sustainable waste management solutions for Bushbuckridge area.
• African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization representing informal waste pickers. Partners on ISOW project to integrate and support waste reclaimers in formal waste collection systems.
• South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for waste pickers. Collaborates on ISOW project to formalize and support informal waste sector workers.
• Durban Green CorridorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental initiative in Durban focused on preventing waste leakage into coastal environments. Partner in East Coast Recycling Project with Alliance to End Plastics Waste.
• Alliance to End Plastics Waste (APEW)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance working to end plastic waste in the environment. Partners on East Coast Recycling Project in Durban focused on local collection to prevent ocean pollution.
• Sustainable Seas TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental trust focused on protecting marine ecosystems. Partners on Fishing Line Bin Initiative to prevent ghost fishing gear pollution.
• WESSA (Wildlife and Environmental Society of Southern Africa)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization collaborating on river and beach clean-up initiatives, Operation Clean Sweep, and environmental education programs.
• Dyer Island Conservation TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation trust focused on marine protection. Partner on Fishing Line Bin Project and marine litter prevention initiatives.
• SAPPMA (South African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for plastic pipe manufacturers. Partner on Fishing Line Bin Initiative and Operation Clean Sweep program.
• Marley Pipe SystemssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVC pipe manufacturer that donated pipes and fittings for the Fishing Line Bin Initiative, enabling expansion of monofilament recycling locations.
• MacNeil PlasticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer providing off-cuts of PVC pipe for creating fishing line recycling bins that are 60cm tall with U-bend design.
• DPI PlasticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlastic products manufacturer supporting the Fishing Line Bin Project by providing monofilament recycling bins for installation at fishing locations.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department funding the Mkhuhlu Separation-at-Source Pilot Project under Operation Phakisa, supporting National Development Plan goals.
• Captain FanplasticsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational initiative targeting schools with environmental messages about recycling. Plastics SA is a proud supporter of this program.
• Clean Surf ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKZN-based NGO leading marine waste collection and awareness. Partner in Inkwazi Isu River Catchment Project on South Coast.
• JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapan's international cooperation agency partnering with DTIC and Plastics SA on the first-ever KAIZEN Train-the-Trainer Project in South Africa, managing the Quality and Productivity Improvement initiative.
• DTIC (Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African government department collaborating with JICA and Plastics SA on the KAIZEN Quality and Productivity Improvement Project for the plastics sector.
• National Quality and Productivity Network (NQPN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality and productivity network leading the implementation of KAIZEN principles within the South African plastics sector.
• Zandvlei TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization benefiting from Plastics SA support for installing litter traps and protecting the Zandvlei lake system.
• Visions of ChangesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization in Muizenberg, Cape Town leading clean-ups and recycling initiatives with Plastics SA support.
• Save a FishiesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPC leading coast-to-coast beach cleaning campaigns. Plastics SA and PROs sponsor the Save-a-Fishie Coast to Coast campaign annually.
• Coca Cola Beverages South AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeverage company sponsoring Beach Rake with Unimog for the Inkwazi Isu project to remove plastic particles from KZN South Coast beaches.
• SASOLsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy and chemical company that funded Baseline Study for KZN South Coast marine waste project and participates in Inkwazi Isu catchment initiative.
• Blue DealssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization in Grabouw that received 2,000 plastic bags from Plastics SA to support local recycling initiatives as part of the Clear River Campaign.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PLASTICS (formerly SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association): US national plastics industry association covering producers, converters, recyclers, and machinery suppliers; same sectoral scope as Plastics SA and similar advocacy, sustainability, and recycling-rate reporting role in the United States.
• British Plastics Federation (BPF): UK plastics industry trade association representing the full value chain (raw materials, processing, recyclers) with sustainability and recycling initiatives directly comparable to Plastics SA's mandate in South Africa.
• European Plastics Converters (EuPC): European trade body representing plastics converters; converts segment is one of the membership pillars Plastics SA explicitly serves ('converters, machine suppliers, fabricators').
• PlasticsEurope: Pan-European trade association representing plastics manufacturers, converters, and recyclers; the closest direct analogue to Plastics SA given identical mission of industry representation, sustainability advocacy, and recycling data publication.
• Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE): European association representing plastics recyclers; highly relevant given Plastics SA's emphasis on the recycling pillar of the SA industry and its role publishing recycling-rate statistics.
• SAPPMA (South African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association): Explicitly named partner and member association within Plastics SA's ecosystem; a sub-sector trade body whose members Plastics SA represents, with overlapping fishing-line bin and Operation Clean Sweep campaigns.

Emerging players

• PETCO (PET Recycling Company): South African Producer Responsibility Organisation for PET, listed as a core strategic partner of Plastics SA for EPR, collection infrastructure, and ISOW technical workgroup participation.
• Polyco: South African PRO for polyolefin plastics and key ISOW partner funding the Bushbuckridge Waste Beneficiation Centre; functionally an adjacent organisation in the SA plastics/recycling ecosystem.
• VinylPlus: Voluntary sustainability programme for the European PVC industry delivering annual recycling progress reporting; comparable methodology and stakeholder-engagement model to Plastics SA's recycling statistics work.

Regional players

• Australia's Plastics Innovation Hub / APCO: Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) coordinates national packaging recycling and EPR-style targets; comparable industry-coordinating, recycling-rate-publishing function to Plastics SA in South Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/plasticssa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Plasticsrfantastic
• Facebookfacebook.com/weloveplastic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plastics-federation-of-s-a
• Instagraminstagram.com/plastics.sa
• Pinterestpinterest.com.mx/plasticssa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plastics