Polyco

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.

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

Product category

Producer Responsibility Organization Services

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)

Keywords

• Extended producer responsibility
• Plastic packaging compliance
• Producer responsibility organization
• Plastic recycling infrastructure
• Packaging waste management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Government partner for Back-to-School Ministerial Programme in KwaZulu-Natal promoting learner dignity, environmental awareness, and community support.
• SAPPIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Supporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, Premier Foods, and Unilever.
• Premier FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Supporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, SAPPI, and Unilever.
• UnileverminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Supporting Back-to-School Ministerial Programme alongside Polyco, SAPPI, and Premier Foods.
• Save a FishiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Environmental 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 RecyclingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Partner in SA Agulhas II initiative for removing plastic pollution from remote areas.
• City of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025Partnership 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 MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2025MOU signed to drive systemic change in waste management, tackle illegal dumping, expand recycling infrastructure access, and develop Packa-Ching buy-back centre.
• SA Agulhas IIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Partnership 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 ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Co-host of Schools Recycling Awards in Eastern Cape alongside Polyco and IWMSA at Waste 360 Conference.
• Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Partner in Schools Recycling Awards at Waste 360 Conference alongside DNF and Polyco.
• iThemba Phakama - 4Ps ModelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Partnership with Western Cape Government expanding Schools-Based Recycling Programme (SBRP) to 13 new sites in 2025 using the 4Ps model.
• Pick n Pay School ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Give Dignity' campaign supporting women in waste, extending EPR service fee compensation for waste collectors.
• Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Buffalo City municipal recycling initiative constructing community-based Packa-Ching buy-back centres.
• Buffalo City Municipality (BCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Buffalo City municipal recycling initiative for community-based Packa-Ching buy-back centres.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@polycosouthafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polyco-sa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Polyco