Polyco
Polyco is South Africa's largest non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation, managing mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility compliance for 650+ plastic packaging members and investing R500M+ into the country's recycling industry across 216 project partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Polyco does
Polyco (legally Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation NPC, trading as Polyco PRO) is a South African non-profit company founded in 2011 by polyolefin plastic packaging converters to promote plastic recycling and divert waste from landfill. Following the August 2021 regulatory shift to mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in South Africa, Polyco extended its mandate from polyolefins (polymer codes 2, 4, 5) to all plastic packaging types and now operates as the country's largest Plastics Producer Responsibility Organisation, representing 650+ member companies including manufacturers, converters, brand owners, importers, and retailers.
The company runs an integrated platform combining EPR scheme management (with DFFE-approved fees ranging from R260/tonne for Rigids to R790/tonne for multi-layer packaging), capital deployment (R500K–R15M interest-free loans and grants to recyclers over 48 months), recycling incentives (R100/tonne for pelletised or sold output), and three operational programmes: Packa-Ching (mobile separation-at-source collection with Weighpay-enabled cashless payments), Million+ Recyclers (consumer and school education reaching 2,500+ schools, 2.5M+ learners, and 140,000+ educators), and a Municipal Support Programme with Buffalo City as flagship. Cumulatively, Polyco has invested over R500 million into the recycling industry across 216 project partners, achieving 700,000+ tonnes of recycling.
Commercially, Polyco is funded entirely by mandatory EPR fees and annual membership subscriptions from its 650+ producer members under Section 18 EPR regulations; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct (EPR membership), via municipal MOUs (Cape Town, Swellendam, Buffalo City, KwaZulu-Natal), through school-based partnerships (notably Pick n Pay School Club), and via the Packa-Ching collection network deployed in informal communities. The company holds a leading regulatory position anchored by successive Minister concurrences on EPR fees (2022, 2025) and has no parent company, no external equity backing, and operates as an independent member-governed NPC under South African law.
Polyco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Polyco
- Legal name
- Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation NPC
- Website
- https://polyco.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Polyco is South Africa's largest non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation, managing mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility compliance for 650+ plastic packaging members and investing R500M+ into the country's recycling industry across 216 project partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Polyco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Producer Responsibility Organization Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)
Keywords
Where Polyco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Polyco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- EPR Fees: Polyco manages an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme where members pay fees per tonne of identified plastic products placed on the South African market. Fees vary by material type: Rigids R260/tonne, Polystyrene varies, PVC Vinyl varies, PET R420/tonne, Flexibles R470/tonne, Multi-layer R790/tonne. These fees fund Polyco's recycling infrastructure investments, initiatives, and administrative operations.
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from 650+ member companies including packaging manufacturers, converters, brand owners, importers, and retailers. Members gain access to EPR scheme management, regulatory compliance support, industry leadership, training, and market insights.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | EPR Fee - Rigids |
| Subscription | Annual | EPR Fee - PET |
| Subscription | Annual | EPR Fee - Flexibles |
| Subscription | Annual | EPR Fee - Multi-layer |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Capital Funding |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Recycling Incentive |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Polyco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Polyco is a South African non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that manages Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for plastic packaging on behalf of its 650+ member companies. It collects EPR and membership fees from obligated plastic producers (manufacturers, converters, brand owners, importers, retailers), then deploys that funding into collection networks, recycling infrastructure, and education programmes that advance South Africa's circular plastics economy.
Product overview
Polyco PRO is South Africa's largest Plastics Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) offering a unified EPR compliance platform. The core offering comprises the EPR Scheme Management service for 650+ members, complemented by three key initiatives: Packa-Ching (mobile recycling collection with cashless payments via Weighpay), Million+ Recyclers (consumer education campaign), and Large Infrastructure/Enterprise Development funding programmes. Polyco operates as a non-profit company (NPC) funded by member EPR fees, investing over R500 million into the plastics recycling industry through 216 project partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Packa-Ching: A mobile separation-at-source collection business that develops enterprises to collect used recyclable packaging material from informal communities. Has diverted over 41 million kg of waste from landfill and paid out over R50 million to communities.
- Million+ Recyclers
Products and services
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme Membership Annual membership that delegates South African plastic packaging Extended Producer Responsibility compliance to Polyco on behalf of producers, converters, brand owners, importers, and retailers. Members pay EPR and membership fees and receive regulatory compliance coverage plus impact reporting.
- Packa-Ching Collection Programme Network of reverse vending machines deployed in shopping centres, schools, and public spaces where consumers exchange recyclable plastic packaging for cash rewards, diverting material into formal recycling streams and feeding recovered tonnages back into Polyco's compliance reporting.
- Million+ Recyclers Programme Programme that formalises and supports informal waste pickers through buy-back centres and collector cooperatives, integrating them into Polyco's collection network and recognising their role in achieving national plastic recovery targets.
Quantifiable outcome
- R500 million+ invested into plastics recycling industry with 700,000+ tonnes achieved
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Polyco
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Polyco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Polyco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)coreGovernment partner for Back-to-School Ministerial Programme in KwaZulu-Natal promoting learner dignity, environmental awareness, and community support.
- SAPPIminorSupporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, Premier Foods, and Unilever.
- Premier FoodsminorSupporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, SAPPI, and Unilever.
- UnileverminorSupporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, SAPPI, and Premier Foods.
- Save a FishiecoreEnvironmental NGO behind the Coast 2 Coast campaign. Polyco committed R150,000 to support year-long programme of clean-ups, public awareness, and waste management across coastal and inland municipalities. Collaboration signals significant expansion of environmental drive.
- Innocence and Sons RecyclingminorPartner in SA Agulhas II initiative for removing plastic pollution from remote areas.
- City of Cape TowncorePartnership with Mayoral Committee Member Grant Twigg for pilot community recycling hub in Scottsdene, Northpine and surrounding areas. Hub located at local ECD centre to strengthen household recycling and create income opportunities.
- Swellendam MunicipalitycoreMOU signed to drive systemic change in waste management, tackle illegal dumping, expand recycling infrastructure access, and develop Packa-Ching buy-back centre.
- SA Agulhas IIminorPartnership with Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Innocence and Sons Recycling for World Environment Day #BeatPlasticPollution initiative removing plastic from remote areas.
- DNF Waste & Environmental ServicesminorCo-host of Schools Recycling Awards in Eastern Cape alongside Polyco and IWMSA at Waste 360 Conference.
- Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA)minorPartner in Schools Recycling Awards at Waste 360 Conference alongside DNF and Polyco.
- iThemba Phakama - 4Ps ModelcorePartnership with Western Cape Government expanding Schools-Based Recycling Programme (SBRP) to 13 new sites in 2025 using the 4Ps model.
- Pick n Pay School ClubcoreLong-standing partnership educating over 2 million learners annually across 2,700+ schools. Renewed annually, providing educational resources, workbooks, posters, and support materials for the Million+ Recycling Education Programme.
- Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)coreCollaboration on 'Give Dignity' campaign supporting women in waste, extending EPR service fee compensation for waste collectors.
- Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB)minorPartner in Buffalo City municipal recycling initiative constructing community-based Packa-Ching buy-back centres.
- Buffalo City Municipality (BCM)coreFlagship municipal project for Polyco's Municipal Focused Strategy. Funded R5 million+ to private businesses for collection and recycling, plus five community-based Packa-Ching buy-back centres.
- Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency (BCMDA)minorPartner in Buffalo City municipal recycling initiative for community-based Packa-Ching buy-back centres.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Polyco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Polyco social profiles
Digital presencePolyco compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Polyco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Polyco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Polyco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Polyco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Polyco
What does Polyco do?
Polyco is a South African non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that manages Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for plastic packaging on behalf of its 650+ member companies. It collects EPR and membership fees from obligated plastic producers (manufacturers, converters, brand owners, importers, retailers), then deploys that funding into collection networks, recycling infrastructure, and education programmes that advance South Africa's circular plastics economy.
Is Polyco a public or private company?
Polyco is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Polyco founded?
Polyco was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Polyco based?
Polyco is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Polyco make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. EPR Fees are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees.
Does Polyco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Polyco.
What industry is Polyco in?
Polyco's product category is Producer Responsibility Organization Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAF, Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support).